optimiste

An optimiste is a person who tends to have positive expectations for the future and to interpret events in a favorable light. In English, the corresponding term is optimist, and the noun is optimism; in French, optimiste describes the person and optimisme describes the attitude.

Philosophical sense and history: Philosophical optimism is the view that life, existence, or the world is good or the best of all possible worlds. It is most closely associated with the theodicy of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, who argued that God chose the best possible universe. The doctrine has faced sustained critique, notably in Voltaire's Candide, which satirizes naive optimism and advocates a more critical, pragmatic assessment of misfortune.

Psychology and social science: In psychology, optimism is studied as a dispositional trait or cognitive style. Dispositional optimism refers to the general expectation that positive outcomes will occur. It has been linked to adaptive coping, resilience, and, in some settings, better physical and mental health, though it is not a guarantee against adversity. The Life Orientation Test is a common instrument for measuring optimism in research. Studies explore its relationship with stress management, health behaviors, and aging, as well as cultural differences in optimistic outlooks.