Mechanisms of hope

Chapter 1: The Dream of Rationality - Rationality as a form of intelligence - The rule about rationality - Rules for what we want, say, and do - A world of failure, reform, and hope Chapter 2: Organizations and Rational Reforms - The rational model and organizational practice - The rational model in presentations and intentions - Reforms - Reform as a threat to hope - Design and methods Chapter 3: Selling Rational Reforms - Two rational reforms - The rational as self-evident - Rationality for others - Selling principles - The irrelevance of experience - Presentation instead of practice - Principle and practice Chapter 4: Buying Rational Reform - An irrational buying process - A well known principle - Watering down and projection - Constructing an organization - Distancing from practices - Similarities between sellers and buyers Chapter 5: The Reception of Rational Reforms - The local edition of the rational principle - Application - system, meaning, and construction - A realistic model - Usefulness - A soft reception Chapter 6: Learning About Rationality - Continues Reforms - The reformers' experiences - Learning at E-city - Conclusion - continued reform - Learning Chapter 7: Learning to Hope - A model of experiential learning - Lack of information - Irrelevance of information - Learning about things other than the principle - Learning about causes: special factors and resistance - Hopeful learning - Learning about the rational principle - Thought or talk Chapter 8: A Public Debate - There is no alternative! - Watering down - Model characteristics rather than effects - The evasive practice - The principle is right and the practice is wrong - Preserving hope at a distance Chapter 9: The Mechanisms of Hope - Avoiding practice - Selection of practice - rationality at a distance in time and space - Interpreting everything for the best - Separating the world of ideas from the practical world - The Act of Hope - An application Chapter 10: The Intricacies of Hope - Introducing rationality with the help of irrationality - Hoe as outcome or cause - A culture of hope - Implications for reforms - Hopefulness and hopelessness References

This book explains how great hopes can be kept afloat in the face of discouraging experiences -- why people often fail to learn from experience, but continue to believe in unrealised and unrealistic ideals.