Beauty in the Midst of Tragedy: Hillesum, García-Rivera, and the Poetic Universe

Pragmatist thinkers often express a hopeful outlook on the world. This paper argues that such optimism might be rooted in a cosmological aesthetic, that the universe itself possesses an underlying beauty that inspires creative and practical engagement with reality. To explore this idea, the paper examines the work of Etty Hillesum and Alejandro García-Rivera, two figures who demonstrate pragmatic sensibilities in different contexts. Hillesum, a Jewish mystic and diarist who died at Auschwitz, maintained a deep affirmation of beauty and prayerful spirituality despite immense suffering. García-Rivera, a theologian of aesthetics, argued that beauty plays a central role in shaping authentic communities, particularly among marginalized groups. Their thought is interpreted through the philosophy of Charles Sanders Peirce, who described the universe as a “great work of art.” The paper concludes that many pragmatists are drawn to a poetic vision of reality that nurtures hope and optimism, especially during tragedy and loss.