Positive Thinking as a Moral and Existential Virtue

Résumé

Positive thinking is a self-preservation principle specific to human nature. It represents a form of affirming the freedom of man as an individual and social being. Starting from the analysis of human condition from the perspective of Cogito, as it is developed in Descartes? philosophy, we gather that thinking is associated to an existential dimension that assumes a permanent association of ethics with authenticity. From the perspective of personal development, positive thinking is both a characteristic that differentiates man from animals, and a quality of the human being that can be cultivated as a moral and existential virtue. It guides the human being toward exiting from crisis and towards living a happy and authentic life. It is in the individual’s power to choose to enhance the power of positive thinking in order to feel fulfilled and to live a better lie.