The Merriam-Webster Dictionary states that an Utopia is, "an imaginary and indefinitely remote place; often capitalized : a place of ideal perfection especially in laws, government, and social conditions." Sir Thomas More's depiction of Utopian society is exactly that-pure imagination and ideal in laws, government, and social conditions." Since, writing Utopia, the world has changed so much, and there are some similarities that we share with Utopia, but will we ever be a complete an utopia? Would we benefit if everything and everyone was the same and "perfect"?
In a sense modern society, is like Utopia. For example, in Utopia, the idea that there are many religions is similar to the numerous religions we have today. (Similar in the sense that there are many, not that the religions are similar and treated the same). Unlike, in More's time, where predominantly one religion was accepted.
Education is also something that is considered to be similar to today's society. For example, every Utopian child is given the right to receive an education, and these people valued education and thought of it to be a necessity. Today, thankfully, we think the same. Education is the most valuable aspect of life, and no one should be deprived of it. Being educated is what molds young minds, and these young minds are the future leaders of tomorrow. The people of Utopia thought of education as not just an academic aspect, but something that instills values, beliefs, and culture into people. Education is thought the same today-it is more than just math, reading, and writing.
Of course there are elements in Utopia that are very different in our modern society. For example, marriage must be done when a woman is 18 years old and a a man is 21 years old. Also premarital sex, is not allowed, and people are punished if they are caught. This is where imagination comes into play. In today's society, people are not forced to get married at a certain age, a young age, or forced to get married at all. People have the choice to marry who they want, when they want, and do whatever they want to do before marriage. If we lived in a Utopia today, so many young people would already be executed, for sexual reasons. Along with marriage, the idea of emotions and love is not included in More's "perfect society". Does he not think that love is meaningful? I understand that emotions and love can cause one to be sad and heartbroken, and in Utopia they focused on happiness, and happiness might be considered to be "perfect", but in today's society emotions is what makes up a person, and most people would not get married if they did not love someone.
I believe that we, human beings, will never have an utopia like the one More had in mind. What human being would want to give up his freedoms, rights, individuality, sex, emotions, and love? Nothing or no one in society will ever be perfect; perfection is just something that is "pure imagination" and Utopia is just a fantasy, not reality.
Of course there are elements in Utopia that are very different in our modern society. For example, marriage must be done when a woman is 18 years old and a a man is 21 years old. Also premarital sex, is not allowed, and people are punished if they are caught. This is where imagination comes into play. In today's society, people are not forced to get married at a certain age, a young age, or forced to get married at all. People have the choice to marry who they want, when they want, and do whatever they want to do before marriage. If we lived in a Utopia today, so many young people would already be executed, for sexual reasons. Along with marriage, the idea of emotions and love is not included in More's "perfect society". Does he not think that love is meaningful? I understand that emotions and love can cause one to be sad and heartbroken, and in Utopia they focused on happiness, and happiness might be considered to be "perfect", but in today's society emotions is what makes up a person, and most people would not get married if they did not love someone.
I believe that we, human beings, will never have an utopia like the one More had in mind. What human being would want to give up his freedoms, rights, individuality, sex, emotions, and love? Nothing or no one in society will ever be perfect; perfection is just something that is "pure imagination" and Utopia is just a fantasy, not reality.
6 comments:
Jackie, I really liked how you pointed out that our society has similarities to a Utopian society in the sense of religion and education. However, to answer your question, I do not think a "Utopian" society is possible to achieve in real life. I feel this way because every individual's idea of a perfect life is going to be different from the next person's. For example, my "perfect" life might be to live in harmony with nature, having no rules and no government with everyone being laid back and carefree. Your perfect life might be very structured with strict rules, routines, and government guiding everyone's lives in a certain direction. Because we are all different and have different personalities and wants, there is no way to create a uniform society in which everyone would be perfectly happy and content.
I really enjoyed reading this. Great thoughts. And I'm glad you compared Utopia with our society because so many people believe some form of Utopia should exist. In my opinion, there is a form of Utopia, the Utopia that More writes about, and that's Socialism and more so Communism. Think about it. The fact that you have to get married at a certain age or you'll be executed is very much like China's "one child" law.
Also the "perfect" society of everyone's equal incomes, clothes, etc. gives no freedom of choice. If people can't make their own choices about their life, then they'll never learn anything. They're like children.
So to answer your question, I do think there could be Utopia, but I don't want one.
I would agree with you that Utopia is something that will never be in the world we currently live in. Too much emphasis is placed on the self. Money, beauty, and power reign supreme in most places while the collective whole of the society that rich/beautiful/powerful person live in is so far removed from that one person that has most of or all three. Even in a communist/socialist society there would probably still be dissent, so no true Utopia will ever be reached without some form of aid from a more powerful being. That is, unless humanity can clean up its act anyway.
It was nice to see the comparisons written out between our society and the 'defined' Utopia. A main reason why so many people are happy with the way our society is run is because of the various, and many that is, freedoms that we as people receive. Yes, we are equal within our society in many aspects, for example you mentioned we all have the right to education. But, in my opinion, by having the chance to choose who you will marry, the clothing you will wear, the job you have, the activities you want to participate in, really does mold a person and defines who he or she is. My question is, is after considering aspects like these how many people would prefer to live a Utopian society where choices are slim to none as everyone is exactly equal? The things that are being mentioned are positive parts of having the freedom to chose. Do these outshine ideas such as no conflict and fighting?
Jamie, you made a good point about having the choice to do things, and asking if that is better than no conflict and fighting. Personally, I can see your point that no fighting and conflict would make allow a society to be peaceful and there would be no problems, but again I think it would be boring. Some people drive on drama and are very competitive and always have something to say..I think these are their freedoms and they should be embraced and if outbreak occurs one should be able to defend himself. Good point though!
I liked this rumination a lot as it really made me think. First off, I think the most important thing to note is that "perfect" is such a subjective term. People are too different and too disorganized to ever form an ideal government. Now, to compare our society to the Utopian is a very interesting point as well. I agree with some of your points but disagree with your opinions on sex and marriage. I think that laws regarding sex and marriage in our culture are much more liberal, yet society still judges people for marrying at a young age. And only recently has laws regarding this subject matter changed. Sir More could have put this into his Utopian society simply because it was the accepted norms that the majority was used to at the time. I do agree with your comparison on education and feel that More's Utopia and our society do share similarities. Great Rumination!
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