If someone asked if you wanted to live in a perfect world, would you say yes? Many people would jump at the chance to live in an ideal society where there are no problems and all of their dreams would come true, often referred to as a utopia. The idea of a utopia was created by Sir Thomas More in his book, Utopia. A utopia is considered a perfect society that is rid of conflict and distress. There have been many attempts at creating utopian communities throughout history, which have all looked different and have had different degrees of success. This leads us to wonder, is a utopia really possible? According to sources, such as Forbes magazine’s article, “Why Utopias Fail,” and Lois Lowry’s book, The Giver, a utopia is not possible because …show more content…
The article “Why Utopias Fail” states, “Any land of milk and honey automatically attracted swords and muskets” (Why Utopias Fail 87). To explain, utopian communities may become vulnerable to external threats when others outside of the community recognize the utopia’s superior status. It is human nature for people to be selfish, jealous, and greedy. Thus, others outside of the utopian community may become envious of what the utopia offers, which may lead to conflicts and attacks. Even if a utopian community is running smoothly internally, external forces may disrupt that peace, which can ultimately lead to the downfall of that utopian society. Additionally, the article states that “internal power grabs are even more poisonous to utopian dreams than external threats” (Why Utopias Fail 88). In other words, a utopian community not only faces threats from the outside but internally too. Another facet of human nature is to compare yourself to others, feel competitive, and want to be the best. Therefore, it is difficult to live in a society where sameness and uniformity restrict people from excelling. Competitive feelings and negativity between community members can build up and cause dissent and problems within the utopia. To conclude, external and internal threats due to human nature can jeopardize the success and longevity of a …show more content…
The article “Want to Escape the Modern World?” states, “But the impossibility of perfection does not absolve us from the path of pursuing a more perfect union” (Want to Escape the Modern World 93). Another way of saying this is that we should always strive toward establishing more ideal societies, even if they are not perfect. The article describes nine small communities that consider themselves utopias for different reasons. Each of these communities attempted to address specific ills and problems faced in the modern world by making certain changes and adjustments to the way people live with the goal of creating a more perfect society. While there may be some truth to the argument that there are some existing utopias, the question is whether these communities can really be considered true utopias. A utopian society is supposed to be free from all problems and perfect in every aspect. Even if a community strives to be a more perfect union, such as the United States of America, but falls short in the end, can it really be considered a utopia? Despite the fact that some believe a utopia is possible, it is clearly not true because there has never been a lasting society that is perfect in all
it should be learnt that the search for „utopia‟ is a contemplative one, and can never be
The authors therefor saw the ‘utopian’ societies to be a trap for weak minded publics, and that once in place, such systems would be able to perpetuate indefinitely due to the efficiency at which they protect and propagate themselves. Through fear, diversion and sedation the utopia can maintain a strong grip on the people it encompasses before anyone realizes the sacrifices made. The popularity of these books does rule out the possibility of such a society coming into existence in the future, however. The state of people is not about to change, and their ignorance will continue regardless of the harshness of the wake up calls issued.
Is a utopia possible in a human society? The article, “Mimetic Desire and the scapegoat” by Brian Mcdonald describes how humans are intertwined with mimetic desire and scapegoats. Mcdonald gives an example of three children who display both of these features. The short story, “The Ones Who Walked Away From Omelas” by Ursula Le is about a town of which is considered happy and joyful, but at the cost and misery of one child. Then, there are those who leave and never come back to Omelas. Both of these stories are laced into one another. As humans a utopia or a perfect society cannot exist due to the reasons that define us as, “human.”
Imagine a place where everything is perfect. There is a place where there is no warfare, where all. All politics, laws, customs, and traditions are respected. A place where there is sameness among all the citizens and everyone is content and happy. This place would be considered a utopia.
Utopian societies are often thought to be impractical based upon the human idea that no one person or thing can ever be completely perfect. Because this idea of perfection is practically impossible to achieve, various controlled techniques need to be used in order to create a utopia. Aldous Huxley states in his foreword to Brave New World that the creation of a perfect utopia is quite possible if we as humans “refrain from blowing ourselves to smithereens” in attempts at creating social stability (xiv). Huxley’s Brave New World “depicts a World State where there is absolute social stability made possible by government-controlled research in biology and psychology” (Woiak 4). While the existence of this utopian
This serene society greatly contradicts the one we live in. Our society is furnished with hatred and warfare, yet in return, we are given freedom and the privilege of having distinctive characters. Given the nature of human beings, our society is more idealistic to live in. Utopia is an imaginary state, which consists of people who believe they are more capable of living in a group than alone. In such a community, the welfare of the group is the primary interest compared to the comfort of individuals.
Yes, in some ways a utopia is possible, but in no way has our society reached that point. All factors still have to be decided. What if there are still people that don’t agree and people that don’t hit the mark. What then? “Every utopia- let's just stick with the literary ones- faces the same problem, what do you do with the people that don’t fit in” says Margaret Atwood. If the expectation of perfection is reached, then choices will be based on the people and their behaviors. In reality there will always be exceptions to the common rule and way of life. “Impossible is not a fact it is an opinion.” Muhammad Ali, states that “the impossible” is not factual, it is a viewpoint. Therefore, one's belief of the impossible utopian society is just a
The Utopia Reader defines the word utopia as “a nonexistent society described in detail and normally located in time and space.” (p.1) I would best define utopia as a fictional dream- paradise land where everything is peaceful, perfect and all runs smoothly. There is no crime disease, or pain. People are happy, kind and fair and have each other’s best
What makes a utopia? A utopia can mean a world without war and struggle, or for some people it can mean a place where everyone can be equal. The word "utopia" literally means "an imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect," but it comes from the greek phrase "no place.” That being said, the definition itself shows that utopias do not exist. Humans we are imperfect; people make mistakes everyday, it is just how we learn and become better version of ourselves. It is impossible for a utopia to exist due to the instinctual tendency of human beings to cause social, religious, and political disputes.
...arn, and cannot be made to forget. Humans all think differently, and can only cooperate to compensate. We cannot feel exactly the same on all of our subjects; therefore, in the process of being human, we are forced to work together, to mold our ideas together, and bring the best from all of our ideas, not just a single one. Humans all take things for granted and want to take the best that we as a race can make it, perfect. Perfection does not exist in this country, or even on Earth itself. Everything, living or not, has flaws, no matter how deeply buried, but not a utopia, nor perfection itself. A utopia simply cannot exist because it is perfect, and our planet, our world, our universe, is not. Perfection is only a thought that exists in our imaginations, and our thoughts, so all attempts to make it a reality, are doomed to creating Oppression, Sorrow, and Death.
Utopia, a term that appeared in the 16th century, was invented by Sir Thomas More in 1516. Many define utopia to be an idealistic and utterly perfect society. However, theoretically, utopia has nearly perfect qualities, not exactly perfect. In history, there has not been any specific record of a utopian society existing and there has been controversy on that it will never exist. However, a utopian society is possible because a utopia does not necessarily need to be absolutely perfect, society can come together and put aside its differences, and because the people learn how to improve situations that can happen or have happened.
Our fascination with utopias stems from our attraction to and pursuit of progress within our own society. We study utopias with the hope that our society will someday evolve into one. But what often goes unnoticed is that if our society improves enough to become utopian, it won't be able to improve any longer. Hence, it will be rigid and unchanging, the complete opposite of what it was as it evolved to its elevated state. This is an awful truth for us because we place value and virtue in the ideas of desire and progress. Our reason tells us: once in an ideal land, desire cannot simply cease to be, because desire is part of our human nature. And our reason is right. An ideal society should accentuate our human nature, not suppress it. As we desire a perfect society we know that a perfect could not exist without our desire. And as long as we desire, we hope for progress. The idea that an utopia wouldn't allow such progress to occur is enough to make us stop believing in utop...
Each person has their own vision of utopia. Utopia means an ideal state, a paradise, a land of enchantment. It has been a central part of the history of ideas in Western Civilization. Philosophers and writers continue to imagine and conceive plans for an ideal state even today. They use models of ideal government to express their ideas on contemporary issues and political conditions. Man has never of comparing the real and ideal, actuality and dream, and the stark facts of human condition and hypothetical versions of optimum life and government.
Can a utopian society ever exist? The answer to that question is a blunt no. Everyone’s different expectations create a world with many diversities. The society in Brave New World is considered dystopian because the people are living under the assumption that their world is perfect. They have a major drug addiction and uncontrolled sexual intercourse, plus a whole lot of other social issues. While our current society may not be perfect, it would be far better off than the society pictured in the novel. Therefore, the society in Brave New World is different from the current society in the United States of America.