Utopia (concept)
The concept of "utopia" refers to an idealized society where conditions are perfect and free from human evils such as corruption, hate, and greed. The term was coined by Sir Thomas More in his 1516 book *Utopia*, where he depicted a fictional civilization that exemplifies these ideals. In a utopian society, inhabitants enjoy social and economic equality, resulting in lives free from worry, poverty, and suffering. However, the notion of what constitutes a utopia can be subjective, leading to various interpretations and versions of this ideal.
Historically, the idea of a perfect society has appeared in diverse philosophies and religious texts, including the biblical Garden of Eden and the works of ancient thinkers like Plato. Utopian principles have been applied across disciplines, influencing political, economic, and social theories. Conversely, the opposite concept, dystopia, portrays societies marked by oppression and dysfunction, often revealing the dark side of utopian aspirations. Utopian themes have also found a place in literature, particularly within the genres of science fiction and poetry, inspiring writers throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
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Utopia (concept)
A utopia is a concept of a fictional civilization in which everything is good. Sir Thomas More introduced the word in his 1516 book Utopia, which described just such a place. People living in a utopic society live wholly or largely without human evils such as corruption, hate, and greed. Inhabitants of utopias live in societies with flawless governments, laws, and social conditions. Suffering does not exist in these societies. Because of social and economic equality, people may live worry-free lives. A utopia is devoid of poverty and often also affluence. However, because idealistic communities are subjective in nature, people have created many versions of a utopian society. The opposite of a utopia, in which society is corrupt, evil, or otherwise dysfunctional is known as a dystopia.
People have applied various utopian principles to subjects such as economics, politics, religion, and science. Writers have used utopian language in many types of literature; it is especially popular in the genre of science fiction. Works of utopian and dystopian fiction are often considered a subgenre of their own, as is utopian poetry. During the nineteenth century, groups made several attempts to create real-life utopias. These utopias did not last long, however. In the twentieth century, utopias existed mainly in writing, such as in H.G. Wells' Modern Utopia (1905) and B. F. Skinner's Walden Two (1948).
Overview
The word utopia comes from the Greek words ou, meaning "no," and topos, meaning "place." Sir Thomas More chose this name as a title for his book because it was a play on the word eutopia, which translates as "good place." More was being ironic—by naming his ideal society utopia, he meant that no place is a wholly good place. However, despite this jest, utopia came to represent striving for a greater good, and people began using the utopic model in both real and imaginary ways.
The idea of a perfect society was around long before More coined the term. The biblical Garden of Eden was a place of pure goodness, free of sin and evil before the creation of man. Ancient scholars such as Plato and Euhemerus argued about how to create a perfect society in The Republic and Sacred History. These stories influenced More's seminal work and continued to inspire social theorists for years to come.
Throughout history, people in many disciplines have used utopian theory. Economic and political theorists have often hypothesized utopian systems of government, which usually involve total equality and commitment to the common good. Utopian concepts have also influenced corrupt governments, however. Russian leader Joseph Stalin touted a utopian vision for his socialist government yet committed horrendous acts of violence against citizens who did not adhere to this vision.
Fiction writers have also often used utopian language in their works. This is especially true of writers during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Utopian fiction eventually spawned an opposite genre, dystopian fiction, which depicts fearful, unhappy societies. Many of these tales involve members of a community led to believe that they are living a utopic existence only to discover they are actually being terribly oppressed. Classic examples of dystopian literature include Brave New World (1932) by Aldous Huxley and Nineteen Eighty-Four (1944) by George Orwell.
Bibliography
Jacoby, Russell. "Chapter One." The End of Utopia: Politics And Culture In An Age Of Apathy. New York: Basis Books, 2000. Print.
Levitas, Ruth. The Concept of Utopia. London: Simon & Schuster, 1990. Print.
Merriam-Webster. "Definition of Utopia." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Web. 10 Jul. 2014. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/utopia>
Scholastic. "Asian Pacific American Heritage: Utopia (Concept)." Scholastic.com. Scholastic Inc. Web. 10 Jul. 2014. <http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/asian-pacific-american-heritage-utopia-concept>
Hughes, Robert. "The Phantom of Utopia." Time. Web. 10 Jul. 2014. <http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,58794,00.html>