Utopian Traditions In History

1818 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Essays on the idea of utopia

A Perfect Society Hidden in Our History

Imagine a world with no crime, greed or poverty. In the past, many people have had the same dream and have strived to achieve a perfect world. The specticality of society’s thoughts on a perfect world made it difficult to achieve this. However, with religion at the side of the majority of these early perfect cultural dreamers, the idea of an utopia was created. A religious or secular community, forming a community life inspired by religion is the exact definition of a utopia today (“Utopian Societies”). But like many old day ideas, the idea of a perfect society was quickly ignored. However, Despite the cultural changes made throughout the ages, utopias have kept their original core beliefs through dedication, isolation from society, and their lasting effects on other communal societies.

The idea of a utopia originated in Greek culture invented by the famous Plato.He strived to form a perfect, religious society in which everything was evenly shared. This matches perfectly with the definition of a utopia, a spiritual community. Not to mention the idea of all things in common is referred to in the bible, automatically giving the utopia roots a religious standpoint.

America is the land of millennial promises (“American and the Utopian Dream”). Many of the utopian stories originate in America for the reason that they had freedom of religion and a brand new start. During the great awakening a lot of European groups in which would have been executed in europe for their religious point of views fled to america to exercise their freedoms. Europe, being connected to greece is where the origin of the idea came about, introduced America to the greek and older ideas.As a result of this, they h...

... middle of paper ...

...ommunity/>.

“Shakers.” Brbl-archive.library.yale.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2014. .

“The Utopian Anama Colony.” History.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2014. .

“Utopian Communities.” boundless.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. .

“Utopian Societies.” Nps.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2014. .

“Want To Escape The Modern World? 9 ‘Utopias’ That Really Exist.” huffingtonpost.com. Carylon Gregoire, 21 Aug. 2013. Web. 28 Feb. 2014. .

Show More
Related

  • The Quakers and Arts in Utopian Societies

    1490 Words  | 3 Pages

    Today, we can still find many examples of past utopias. A utopia is an ideally perfect place, especially in its social, political, moral and legal aspects.1 They do not approve of any actions that are superficial and unnecessary. In addition to these beliefs, people from utopian societies are strong believers in God. Sharing many of these same ideals, the Quakers are a group with a strong faith. Despite the fact that Quakers feel art is a luxury and a frivolous thing that they should not take part in, many great artists and writers are members of the Quaker society.

    Read More

  • Fahrenheit 451 And 1984 - The Fear Of Utopia

    1240 Words  | 3 Pages

    The authors therefor saw the ‘utopian’ societies to be a trap for weak minded publics, and that once in place, such systems would be able to perpetuate indefinitely due to the efficiency at which they protect and propagate themselves. Through fear, diversion and sedation the utopia can maintain a strong grip on the people it encompasses before anyone realizes the sacrifices made. The popularity of these books does rule out the possibility of such a society coming into existence in the future, however. The state of people is not about to change, and their ignorance will continue regardless of the harshness of the wake up calls issued.

    Read More

  • Does Utopian Socialists offer an attractive political reform?

    1639 Words  | 4 Pages

    Utopia is a term invented by Sir Thomas More in 1515. However, he traces the root two Greek words outopia and eutopia which means a place does not exist and a fantasy, invention. It is widely accepted that Plato was to first to picture a utopian order. In his masterpiece, “Republic”, he formed the principles of ideal commonsense and his utopia (Hertzler, 1922:7). After the classical age, Sir Thomas More assumed to be the first of the utopian writers in early modern period. As a humanist, he gave the world in his “Utopia” a vision of a perfect communistic commonwealth (the history of utopian thought). Utopia’s influence on contemporary and rival scholars is so deep that it has given its name to whole class of literature. Following the appearance of More’s Utopia, there was a lack of Utopian literature for nearly a century (Hertzler, 1922:7). This period ended with the works of Francis Bacon, Campanelle and Harrington. These early modern utopians, being the children of Renaissance, filled with a love of knowledge and high respect for the newly truths of science. Thus, they believed that the common attainment of knowledge means the largest participation of all members of society in its joys and benefits. After the period of early Utopians, continuation of a sprit of French Revolution and initial signs of industrial revolution resulted in the emergence of a new group of Utopians called Socialist Utopians (Hertzler, 1922: 181). The word “Socialism” seems to have been first used by one of the leading Utopian Socialists, St Simon. In politics utopia is a desire that never come true neither now nor afterwards, a wish that is not based on social forces (material conditions and production) and is not supported by the growth and development of political, class forces. This paper discusses the validity of this claim, tries to present and evaluate the political reforms, if any, offered by Socialist Utopians.

    Read More

  • Compare and Contrast: The Ones Who Walked Away from the Omelas and The Lottery

    794 Words  | 2 Pages

    What would happen if an utopia wasn’t all that perfect on the inside? Judging by just the appearance of something may lead to a situation of regret and confusion.” The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” by Ursula K. Le Guin and “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson address the theme of religious and traditional symbolism.” The Lottery” demonstrates how something that seems so perfect on the outside isn’t all that great on the inside.

    Read More

  • The Fruitland Community

    491 Words  | 1 Pages

    A utopian society is very hard to come across these days. People tend to start a utopian society in order to better the life’s of others. Bronson Alcott of the Fruitland Community tries to find a utopian society that will last and be productive. The Fruitland’s goal is to abstain from worldly activity and integrate systems of trade and labor in order to find spirituality.

    Read More

  • The Hutterites Are A Utopia

    830 Words  | 2 Pages

    Imagine a place where everything is perfect. There is a place where there is no warfare, where all. All politics, laws, customs, and traditions are respected. A place where there is sameness among all the citizens and everyone is content and happy. This place would be considered a utopia.

    Read More

  • Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas By Ursula Le Guin

    1007 Words  | 3 Pages

    One of the reasons, the so called Utopia fails to exist time and again when attempts are taken solely on the ground of equity is that, even the most idyllic society is somewhat built on the foundation of pain, sacrifice of the weak for the benefits of strong. From the analysis of Omelas and the contemporary North American societies it is clear that there is no Utopia.

    Read More

  • Comparing Margaret Cavendish’s The Description of a New World, Called the Blazing World and Sir Tho

    1703 Words  | 4 Pages

    The so-called Utopia – the quasi-perfect society – flourishes in Margaret Cavendish’s “The Description of a New World, Called a Blazing World” and Sir Thomas More’s Utopia. While the former is a dreamlike account of fantasy rule and the latter a pseudo-realistic travelogue, both works paint a picture of worlds that are not so perfect after all. These imperfections glitter like false gemstones in the paths of these Utopians’ religious beliefs, political systems, and philosophical viewpoints.

    Read More

  • Theme of Utopia in The Giver

    808 Words  | 2 Pages

    This serene society greatly contradicts the one we live in. Our society is furnished with hatred and warfare, yet in return, we are given freedom and the privilege of having distinctive characters. Given the nature of human beings, our society is more idealistic to live in. Utopia is an imaginary state, which consists of people who believe they are more capable of living in a group than alone. In such a community, the welfare of the group is the primary interest compared to the comfort of individuals.

    Read More

  • Comparing Plato's Republic, More's Utopia, and Gurney's Dinotopia

    1391 Words  | 3 Pages

    Manuel, Frank E. and Fritzie P. Manuel. Utopian Thought in the Western World. Cambridge, MA: Belknap-Harvard Press, 1979.

    Read More

  • Comparing More's Utopia and Our Modern Dystopia

    419 Words  | 1 Pages

    Fourth, the religion of the Utopians is much like modern religion with one major exception. The religious beliefs of both societies are pluralistic. Utopia allows all religion except our most dominant religion: secular humanism (i.e. "atheism"). A man, who believes blind chance not divine providence, determines actions, is less than a man. In our culture of neo-Darwinism and "man is pure matter," everything is by chance.

    Read More

  • Utopia Vs. Dystopia

    965 Words  | 2 Pages

    Each person has their own vision of utopia. Utopia means an ideal state, a paradise, a land of enchantment. It has been a central part of the history of ideas in Western Civilization. Philosophers and writers continue to imagine and conceive plans for an ideal state even today. They use models of ideal government to express their ideas on contemporary issues and political conditions. Man has never of comparing the real and ideal, actuality and dream, and the stark facts of human condition and hypothetical versions of optimum life and government.

    Read More

  • Utopia Vs Herland

    1841 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Utopia Reader defines the word utopia as “a nonexistent society described in detail and normally located in time and space.” (p.1) I would best define utopia as a fictional dream- paradise land where everything is peaceful, perfect and all runs smoothly. There is no crime disease, or pain. People are happy, kind and fair and have each other’s best

    Read More

  • Architectural Utopia or Dystopia?

    2400 Words  | 5 Pages

    Frank E. Manuel and Manuel Frtizie, Utopian Thought in the Western World. London: Belknap Press 1982

    Read More

  • Comparing Plato's Republic and Thomas More's Utopia

    2965 Words  | 6 Pages

    Manuel, Frank E. and Fritzie P. Manuel. Utopian Thought in the Western World. Cambridge, MA: Belknap-Harvard Press, 1979.

    Read More

More about Utopian Traditions In History

Open Document