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The paper investigates the interplay of despair and hope in the face of human extinction, framed by the concept of entropy.

Pessimistic Humanism: Extinction, Entropy, and Interwar Philosophy

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Philosophical analysis of extinction and entropy in interwar thought reveals a complex tension between despair and hope.

The paper investigates the interplay of despair and hope in the face of human extinction, framed by the concept of entropy.
Analyzed the works of Bertrand Russell, H.G. Wells, and Erwin Schrödinger during the interwar period.
Explored the philosophical implications of thermodynamics on existential thought and human values.
Developed the concept of ‘pessimistic humanism’ as a response to existential threats.
Identified a common thread of pessimistic humanism among the three thinkers, reconciling despair with political hope.
Showed that the tension between natural processes and human value reinforces autonomy but limits it.
Recommended a political approach that embraces mourning as a means to combat despair.

Georgie Newson (2026) studied this question.

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