Utopian Communities in America Utopian communities have deep roots in American history. According to Mark Holloway, utopian communities were “secular heavens,” formed for a multitude of reasons (17). Utopian communities began in America as early as the seventeenth century and were predominant through the late nineteenth century. Few utopian communities prospered and gained a large following, while others faded within a short period of time. Utopian communities can best be understood by examining the history of their foundation, aspects that bound these communities, and predominant communities. Why Were Utopian Communities Created? As early as the sixteenth century, Europeans had a fascination with the concept of “Utopia.” Places such as Atlantis, the Fountain of Youth, and the Earthly Paradise were all believed to have been discovered (Mizrach). The fascination with utopian societies were extended in Thomas More’s Utopia, Thomas a Campanella’s City of the Sun, Valentin Andraea’s Christianopolis, and Francis Bacon’s New Atlantis (Mizrach). These utopian writers saw America as a place where experiments of nature and …show more content…
society could be conducted (Mizrach). The interest in Utopia continued into the Enlightenment Period as people were captivated by Native Americans (Mizrach).
As described by Jean Jacques Rousseau in the Noble Savage, Native Americans represented innocence, obedience, and freedom (Mizrach). Rousseau would therefore inspire philosophers such as Michel de Montaigne and Voltaire (Mizrach). Moreover, the Carbonari, Scottish Rite Masons, and the Illumanti would start to propose different utopian models that would defy the monarchy and the church (Mizrach). In summary three main reasons influence the foundation of Utopian communities in America. These reasons include: (1) Renaissance yearning for a “renewed Golden Age of harmony and plenty,” (2) Enlightenment longing for ‘natural reason’ found in the Native Americans, and (3) “Rosicrucian” yearning for retribution against authority
(Mizrach). The first Utopian communities formed in response to religion as well. Early Utopian communities sought perfection and purification (Mizrach). Also, Protestantism challenged Catholicism, motivating early Utopian communities to model itself after the apostolic church (Mizrach). Utopian communities were also formed response to industrial problems in Europe (Holloway, 18). Utopian socialists came to America and tried to resolve these problems by setting up utopian societies in America (Holloway, 18). By the nineteenth century, America experienced a “golden age of community experiments” (Holloway, 18). These societies had revolutionary ideals including: equality of sex, nationality, and color, the eradication of private property and property of people, and non-resistance (Holloway, 18). Regardless of the idealism in Europe, Utopian communities would find difficulties in America (ie. geography, climate) (Mizrach). With these difficulties among others, few Utopian communities would prove to be successful (Holloway, 19). Nonetheless, Holloway notes that “All [Utopian communities] contributed to something of value, not only to the fund of experience upon which succeeding experiments of the same kind have relied, but also to the history of American society” (19).
Today, we can still find many examples of past utopias. A utopia is an ideally perfect place, especially in its social, political, moral and legal aspects.1 They do not approve of any actions that are superficial and unnecessary. In addition to these beliefs, people from utopian societies are strong believers in God. Sharing many of these same ideals, the Quakers are a group with a strong faith. Despite the fact that Quakers feel art is a luxury and a frivolous thing that they should not take part in, many great artists and writers are members of the Quaker society.
The first Ism, is Communal-ism, or systems of practically self-governing local communities. There were hundreds of these little Utopian societies infested by moral reform. A Patriots History shows “The most successful of the communes were rooted in religious fundamentalism. Like Hopedale communalist Adin Ballou, religious Utopians believed man was ruled by the “Law of God”, written on his heart, without the aid of external bonds.” Communalism required moral reform in order to succeed. Bronson Alcott and Charles Lane’s 1834 failed within a year, and likewise George Ripley’s Brook Farm and other communes either collapsed, or were forced to substantially modify their programs. Among the societies advocating Communal-ism, were many authors: Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), Henry David Thoreau, and Margaret Fuller. Bronson Alcott, and many others advocated for a Communal system. Patriots History reveals that the Utopian thinkers, “search for freedom led them ulti...
What would happen if an utopia wasn’t all that perfect on the inside? Judging by just the appearance of something may lead to a situation of regret and confusion.” The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” by Ursula K. Le Guin and “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson address the theme of religious and traditional symbolism.” The Lottery” demonstrates how something that seems so perfect on the outside isn’t all that great on the inside.
A utopian society is a form of society in which there is only equality and justice for all. Many utopian societies are formed for means of shelter to those who form similar opinions of how the world should work, some for educational purposes and others for a spiritual communion. The Residential Community at Beacon Hill Friends House was formed “ To advance and foster the distinctive principles of the Religious Society of Friends, to provide opportunities for the development of leadership for the Society, and especially to establish and maintain a center where members of the Society and persons sympathetic to its principles, including those pursuing programs of study at other educational institutions, whether undergraduate, graduate, or special, may meet together, and where such persons may live, and where the principles of the Society may be advanced and fostered by study and example.” This society is still successful in its mission to provide what has been stated. This community is still open and willing to accept any applicant.
One of the reasons, the so called Utopia fails to exist time and again when attempts are taken solely on the ground of equity is that, even the most idyllic society is somewhat built on the foundation of pain, sacrifice of the weak for the benefits of strong. From the analysis of Omelas and the contemporary North American societies it is clear that there is no Utopia.
One phenomenon Pratt discusses is the issue of fake utopias, or imagined communities. In these imagined communities, she explains, “people ‘will never know most of their fellow-members, meet them or even hear of them, yet in the mind of each lives the image of their communion’” (Pratt, 507). People in these fake utopias believe that the people surrounding them share the same language, beliefs, characteristics and values that they possess, but in reality ...
In 1948, John Humphrey founded another utopian experiment in Oneida, New York. This was another important utopian society experiment in the 1800’s. In this society, children were raised by the whole community, and businesses were run by the whole community. In other words, everyone who lived there was part of one big family. The Oneida experiment grew fairly large over 30 years, including over 200 peopl...
Before reading Utopia, it is essential that the reader understand that like Jonathan Swift’s, A Modest Proposal, Utopia is satirical. More creates a frame narrative in which Raphael Hythloday, the novel’s main character, recollects his observations of Utopia during his five-year stay. Hythloday spares no detail in his descriptions of Utopia, as he discusses everything from their military practices, foreign relations, religion, philosophy, and marriage customs. Interestingly enough, everything Hythloday discusses in Book II seems to be a direct response to of all of t...
Utopia achieves great universality by evincing great understanding and sympathy with all men (Surtz, vii). It presents the hope for far better things, sustained by the view that man may shape and mold himself in any chosen form, (viii) thus creating the best earthly state possible. Redfield’s text focuses on nine insights to a spiritual transformation. When all nine insights are understood, an exciting new image of human life, and a positive vision of how we can save this planet, it’s creatures and it’s beauty will be attained (Redfield). According to Redfield, upon reaching the new millennium, human culture will shift as we move toward a completely spiritual culture on earth. In order to understand where we are today, we must take ourselves back to the year 1000 and move through the millennium as we lived through it. Imagine yourself being alive in the year 1000, the Middle Ages. The first thing you must understand is that the reality of this time is being defined by the powerful churchmen of the Christian church (22). Because of their position, these men hold great influence over t...
The coming of the Europeans led to the colonisation of the region by the powerful European colonies such as England, Spain, and Portugal, etc. was aided by various expeditions that led to the discovery of North America. Christopher Columbus played an important part in the exploration of the American continent which shed more light on the existence of North American lands that were good for both agriculture and other developmental abilities. This paper examines the extent that the European colonisation of North America was a utopian experiment. A critical review of existing literature is conducted to illustrate the factors brought forth in the report to develop the viewpoint taken into the body of the literature.
There are things people cannot possibly comprehend. I do not believe that a utopian society is any of those things that humans cannot do or think about or comprehend or even create. Although most people think utopian societies that are controlled by a higher level of people turn out to fail, there have been some successful Utopian societies throughout history. Utopian societies are certainly hard to create or control but I don’t think it is impossible to make a Utopian Society. Are Utopian societies real? Utopian Societies are indeed real, in fact, Younus Algohar once said “A perfect society will form when a majority of human beings are enlightened.” Health and human services is immensely important when creating an Utopian Society. How does
Frank E. Manuel and Manuel Frtizie, Utopian Thought in the Western World. London: Belknap Press 1982
Manuel, Frank E. and Fritzie P. Manuel. Utopian Thought in the Western World. Cambridge, MA: Belknap-Harvard Press, 1979.
In the nineteenth century, man believed in the perfectibility of mankind and in the real possibility of an ultimate utopia, a time when man could all live together in peace. However, the events of the twentieth century have weakened that belief. Both cold and hot wars have followed each other in succession. Revolutions and civil wars have taken place and totalitarianism has become a fact that can hardly be ignored. Therefore, the modern age has become a time in which more anti-utopias have been envisioned than ever before.
Because they are described in a detailed manner, the Utopia book itself seems to be enough to be a blueprint for the future. However, Thomas More clearly stated that he just wishes Europeans to follow some good qualities of the Utopian society—“there are many things in the Utopian commonwealth that in our own societies I would wish rather than expect to see” (97)—because he himself knows that it is impossible for any country to be like Utopia. This is apparent, because Utopia is possible on the premise that every factor comes together to create this ideal society. Even the geography has to contribute to this premise, as Hythloday explains the geography of Utopia as the place where strangers cannot enter without one of them (39). Moreover, from diligent and compassionate Utopians’ characteristics and their ways of life, they seem to be successful in reaching the fullest of every aspect of their life including physical, intellectual, social, spiritual, and emotional, when it is hardly possible to even have one person like that in real life.