A Treatise on Modern Utopianism

The world that we live in is not a utopia. A world that has over three-fourths of its population living in abject poverty, where even the free countries are worried about losing their freedoms, and that cannot solve its ecological problems with the help of science, is not a utopia. The modern age is an age that values progress, (Schoepflin 6-1) but currently, despite technological advances, society seems to be stagnating. We are in a perpetual cycle of faceless leaders, familiar wars and perpetual fear. These things are not the signs of a progressing society. To correct this, we need to work on creating a society that cares for all of its members, provides the greatest amount of happiness for everyone – regardless of class, race or gender, and that learns how to utilize technology in the least destructive manner.

The phrase “Creating a society that cares for all of its members” is perhaps an unfortunate one, when said in the United States, as it usually implies Communism. Communism, as every American knows, is second only to “Terrorism” and “Unpatriotic people” as the biggest threat to the stability of American society. Communism is the opposite of Capitalism, and Capitalism is the tool that enabled the world to escape the shackles of the monarchies of the pre-modern world. Capitalism is the great equalizer that enables anyone the opportunity to succeed.

The problem with this statement is this: Capitalism operates on the principle that all people are inherently good and equal. (Schoepflin 5-31) This disregards characteristics of people that create an imbalance, such as: birth defects, mental problems, the different personality types, and unique learning styles. No two people are the same, and no two people function equally in a particular environment. To assume they do in light of recent studies would be foolish, when even the United States government does not pretend that everyone is equal. However, instead of looking at the economic system that contributes to the widening gap between the wealthy and the poor, we continue to presume that Capitalism is the solution to the world’s problems. Here in America, we pretend to care about the plights of the less fortunate, but we are unable to produce a lasting solution. Searching for a more permanent solution to the economic disparities of the world does not requiring viewing Capitalism as evil or antiquated, but it does mean that we should examine our personal biases towards it honestly.

Creating a society that cares for all of its members is not only about economic systems, it is also an idea that requires a bit of social engineering. Social Engineering is customarily viewed as a negative concept, but is a common practice. The most prevalent example of this in current society is the popular media in America, but examples of social engineering can be found in many different facets of society. Rather than disparaging the practice, it should be used for good purposes. The shift from a self-centered culture to an other-centered culture is not a quick change, but over time, with social engineering, it could be done. Changing to an other-centered culture does not mean that the person freedom that is triumphed in American society is lost, just that it is subordinate to the needs of society as a whole.

An other-centered perspective is necessary in a utopia in order to provide the greatest amount of happiness for everyone – regardless of class, race or gender. Many of the struggles that people face are cause by a self-centered point of view. In worrying all the time about how we look, how we are feeling, and our own personal well-being, we maintain a constant focus on our problems instead of on the good things in our lives. In caring for ourselves above others, we create a world full of self-centered people. This makes happiness even more illusive as our environment is as miserable as our internal world. If we were instead to focus on the well being of others, we would find personal happiness as well. When we focus on other people’s well-being, the focus is taken off of our own lives. This is not an easy perspective, but as people begin to react in a positive manner to the care we give them, the work will be rewarding. Happiness will come as we realize that as we are caring for others, others are caring for us. In creating a society where people are happy, we must create a society that cares, and vice versa.

Technology does not fit into a utopia as neatly as the other two ideas. The previous two ideas of a utopia are symbiotic and technology is the outsider. Yet even an outsider can have an effect on a symbiotic relationship, and technology plays an important part in the perpetuation of the previous two ideas. Technology is a complicated tool. Used properly it can be an agent for progress and well-being, but in the wrong hands it can be used to subjugate people and destroy the planet. It is essential for the well-being of society that technology is used only selectively and only in cases where it will maximize the welfare and quality of life for humanity. If this is done, the symbiotic relationship of happiness and caring will be able to develop to their fullest potential.

Society as we know it is a decrepit, dying institution. Something needs to be done to repair it, before it falls apart completely. If we can only learn how to care for each other, maximize our happiness, and minimize the negative intrusions of technology, we may come out of this degeneration with a stronger society than we had in the beginning of this era. It will take work and a change in the way people think about themselves and the world around them, but this effort will be worth it to see our society advance towards a utopia.