Is a Utopia-community possible?

Question

I know greed gets in the way and prevents a Utopia from functioning but suppose they voted the greedy people out at the first hint of jealousy or greed of any kind. Then would a Utopia be possible in theory? Hmmm...

Answer 1

No, by very definition. It could not be possible, even in theory, because it is defined as impossible:

"Utopia" means an "imaginary and indefinitely remote place."*

It's sad that greed has become pervasive in our culture; we had it pretty good for awhile. As Aristotle said, "Democracy is a bad form of government, but it's the best form of government." Now with greed ruling, we have a corporatocracy, at the least, and I can see why it sends one to dreaming of Utopia.

From the communes in which I lived, and I lived in two different ones--one for a year and one for two years--I think that human beings, and I speak here specifically in Western cultures, as I don't know enough about Eastern ones--are far too individualistic to do particularly well in communes. It is sad, and I'm from a generation that really wanted to believe and that tried hard to make it happen.

But the amount of unselfishness, of sacrifice that must be had in a communal environment is extraordinary; some want to play music until the early hours of the morning, but this can't happen. So? Hostilities. Everyone wants this particular chore or that particular task, but someone HAS to do the ones nobody wants, difficult....

"Wait, I thought she was in love with me, but I saw you come out of her room last night!" Problems....

'Get my meaning? (And those were communes without babies or children. Just think of all the people today who want to live in separate apartments in buildings without children! Yikes! Or think of a baby coming on the scene without the lines or distinctions having been tightly drawn--as in, "but I saw you come out of her room last night!")

The closest communities I ever knew to working communities were the convents of the nuns, when I was a child, and I imagine the monasteries and the monks, but that's not exactly the kind of life highly individualistic, independent, materialistic people would want to lead. There is a complete giving up of freedom. (And if you're talking about "voting out" the greedy and the jealous, you're talking about distinctions that would eventually lead to a dictatorship rather than the more idealistic way of life that one thinks of when one thinks of Utopia; there might be a benevolent dictator somewhere, but even Plato, who believed in one, had to admit to the corruption that comes with that kind of power--think Jonestown, and you'll see what I mean, and that's definitely not the only community that got led and fooled by its "benevolent dictator." One has to be wary, when it comes to cults.)

P.S. I cried, when I read "Animal Farm."** "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." It's the perfect book in which to find the mechanisms that make Utopia, just that.... (impossible)....

One might read "Brave New World," to read about a true Dystopia. It is a satire, written by Aldous Huxley, who called his creation, "a nightmare," and so it is....

Answer 2

I think a utopia is only possible in theory. If you could start with a society of tabula rasa's, a people without the damage caused by socialization into an extant, vicious, effed-up society, they could easily establish a sustainable utopia. Unfortunately, any attempt at utopia-building will always fail due to the fact that the only people capable of adapting to a utopia without abusing the freedoms it necessarily must grant are newborns who, unfortunately, lack a few requisite skills to keep a society functioning.

Answer 3

Should be posted in homework help. Its the story of the "free" bus. The bus ran every 15 minutes, and all over town.There was no fare but was by contribution. Those who were enlightened chipped in almost 1/2 of what it would have cost to drive everywhere. some pitched in what they could because they also saw the benefit. But there were some who saw that they derived even more benefit by not paying at all and rode on the contributions of others. How long will the others be willing to pay for the slackers?

Answer 4

Wow well God tried that but look what happened to Adam and Eve and caused Cain to kill Abel. It aint possible since you are asking man to do that. It's something within man that runs contrary to a wished for Utopian society. The Bible calls it sin. That is the willful disobedience to God's command and authority.

Answer 5

Your question is meaningless because you have asked "would a Utopia be possible in theory?"

Duh. Of course, it's possible IN THEORY.

It's just not possible in practice. Or in reality, if you prefer that term.

Sorry. I truly wish it were possible.

Answer 6

Maybe for the first and second generation if a lot of discipline is applied. But from the third generation on, human nature would eventually take over.

Answer 7

In theory, it's possible...much like communism is a "good" idea. But once you add the human element (which of course is needed), it becomes muddled with error, emotions, and flaws. So, no. I don't think it's possible.

Answer 8

it is possible.
with our advanced technology growing like it is every year, a utopia community doesnt seem far away.
stem cell research is what really frightens people because the goverenment and the medical industry really have the power and money to practilly do whatever they want.

try reading
"brave new world"
or
"the giver"
theyre both really good!

Answer 9

Utopia is not perfected to the absolute; it is only a democracy.

Answer 10

YA is the closest to utopia we're gonna find for the time being.

Sad.