Changes

The term '''optimist''' was originally applied to those who adhered to the [[philosophy]] of optimism. This declared that the world was the best of all possible worlds, as it was created by [[God]]. Therefore even what appeared bad was actually part of [[God]]'s perfection.

The term '''optimist''' was originally applied to those who adhered to the [[philosophy]] of optimism. This declared that the world was the best of all possible worlds, as it was created by God. Therefore even what appeared bad was actually part of God's perfection. [[Image:Glass-half-full.jpg|thumb|280px]]

The term came to be used as meaning someone who looks for the positive side of a situation and anticipates the most positive outcome of a venture.

The term came to be used as meaning someone who looks for the positive side of a situation and anticipates the most positive outcome of a venture.  

An [[optimist]] is one who looks at a glass of water that is half-full and half-empty, and focuses on how it is half-full.  A [[pessimist]] focuses on how it  is half-empty.

An [[optimist]] is one who looks at a glass of water that is half-full and half-empty, and focuses on how it is half-full.  A [[pessimist]] focuses on how it  is half-empty.

[[Voltaire]] mocked the concept in his novel ''[[Candide]]''.

French author [[Voltaire]] mocked the concept in his novel ''[[Candide]]'' (1759), ridiculing [[Leibnitz]]'s notion that this is the best of all possible worlds.

Antonym: [[Pessimist]]

Antonym: [[Pessimist]]

[[category:philosophy]]

[[category:philosophy]]