Utopian Society Essay

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English 2010
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Exploratory Paper
One Key Element Needed Before Utopia Will Be a Reality?
“Utopia,” is a word coined by Sir Thomas More in 1518 for an ideal society, where there is peace, equity, happiness and prosperity for all. Utopia is taken from the Greek words ou meaning “no” and topos meaning “place.” And indeed the perfect society is found “no place.” Yet philosophers continue to argue interpretations of and resolutions for this illusive utopia. The solutions offered have been many yet the world continues in a state of turmoil. Is utopia possible?   Some argue the answer is in a proper political system, others look to organized religion for an answer. Before introducing the missing element, let's first look together at what governments and religion have done to help or hinder the progress of peace, equity, happiness and prosperity for all, or utopia.
What type of governments help bring society closer to a state of utopia?
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, "Socialism" is “A theory or policy of social organization which aims at or advocates the ownership and control of the means of production, capital, land, property, etc., by the community as a whole, and their administration or distribution in the interests of all people.” By this definition, Socialism sounds much like utopia. Yet no where on earth do we find a place where Socialism in practice has created a utopian society. People give up privacy and liberty as they look to socialistic governments to guarantee safety and basic human needs to all. Intrusive government, set up for the sake of building utopia, have been the focus of many dystopian novels as writers explore the idea of governments controlling every aspect of social behavior. In the novel We, by Yevgeny Aamyatin, written as a satire or warning, the main character gives numerous arguments in support of the ruling power or “One State,” as he struggles to maintain his allegiance to it. The story, written...