Most people reading this essay will disagree on the topic upfront because why can one possibly say that the daily lives of people and society at large are shaped by utopianism? Nevertheless, to question the title of this paper also requires one who understands what utopia means and what its components, ideas, and themes are to offer a critique and disagree. So, what is utopianism? Utopianism in this context is the act of futuristic conceptualization of a good life that is not in existence currently or a futuristic occurrence of extremely unpleasant conditions that keep looming in people’s minds in everyday activities. For a long time, people have always dreamt of a better life in the future, always different from what they may have at a particular time (Sargent 195).
On the other hand, it is also true that people have always feared the possibility of an extremely difficult future, which they wish would not happen to them (195). Daily activities are largely shaped by that sense of social dreaming, in which people dream the future with twofold ideals of eutopia and dystopia, all of which are tailored to utopianism: dreams of an ideally perfect future with no struggles and an extremely dark future with unprecedented suffering, respectively. In society, people work extremely hard to pursue their dreams of achieving the best lives they ideally conceptualize in their thoughts and, at the same time, avoid suffering and experiencing unpleasant occurrences.
Most people who might disagree with the position of this paper that utopianism is part of humanity and it influences essential activities of people’s daily lives more often would take a position that utopianism is only a response for human beings in an attempt to make up for the deficiencies that exist in the real world. However, when human beings have always been “contented” with what they need at a particular moment, they still go ahead and conceptualize another future different from what they have, following an “innate” need for humans to dream for a better life and, therefore it seems that there is no “better” life that can exist for human beings since it seems that it is hard to achieve real contentment (Sargent 9). Or else, which might be quite reasonable, would it be true to say that even when people are contented with their lives, and they have at a particular time, the sense of contentment fades away following the conceptualization of a possibility of the present contentment subduing in the future? If that is true, then it is undeniably true that the concept of utopianism, which includes the negative version of the utopian concept of “eutopia,” “dystopia” is innately inseparable from humanity.
The concept of utopianism is always met with differing understandings of “utopia,” which is the central concept and which has been and is still being modified philosophically, something this paper wishes to address concerning the implications of utopianism. When it comes to the topic of utopia and its relevant concepts, various perspectives always emerge, following the endless debates that exist among scholars and also in the public sphere concerning the meaning and the definitions of utopia, as its definition keeps on being defined and redefined, to suit various contexts of application. Undoubtedly, the central definition of the term utopia must be tailored around the initial definition by the pioneer of utopian studies and literature, Sir Thomas More (Sargent 5). He defined utopia as a place of non-existence or a place of ideal perfection that cannot be practically achieved.
One of the most influential aspects of utopianism that has dominated the world for the longest time is eutopia, which existed long before the concept of utopia was put into mainstream literature or even put into thought as a topic for discussion. First, utopia as a literal concept is a fairly modern idea that was brought to light in 1516 by an English statesman, Thomas More. A long time before More argued utopia from a societal standpoint, it is right to take the position that utopia had always existed and was used to shape the trajectory of people’s lives in the social, political, and economic spheres. Reflecting on the earliest known traditions today, through surviving literature, both oral and written, religious beliefs and the narratives of noble savages are enough evidence that the concept of utopia and humanity is bound to exist almost “naturally” (Sargent 8). A good question to ask in that position, does that mean that utopianism, which means social dreaming, is an innate aspect of human nature. Lest this position be misunderstood, it is quite clear that utopianism as a concept has had a significant influence on people’s behavior, whether in the positive or negative conceptualization of the future.
Utopianism, the concept of social dreaming as seen earlier, can take both the positive dreaming of a good life, which is known as eutopia, which is very clear in ancient societies, both in the political and the religious aspects that are known today. The best examples of eutopia in noble savage narratives and traditional societies before the term “utopia” was even introduced are quite convincing of the existence of utopianism. The mythical stories, religious belief systems, and the political structures of early societies all contain very peculiarities of eutopia, at least as it is known today (Sargent 12). Looking at specific examples, it is undeniably true that in the ancient world, the ideas of good life prospects, glorification of heroism, and ideas of immortality, among others, were profoundly essential in determining the lives of people in society, influencing the activities that were carried out. One classic example that can be drawn from such assertions of utopianism in the ancient world is the biblical stories. First, the Bible is one of the earliest known surviving religious literature, and right from its beginning, it is quite easy for someone with a better understanding of the concept of utopia to decode aspects of utopianism from it. The concept of early paradises is very profound in religious narratives and beliefs. The Garden of “Eden” for example, is illustrated as an ideal, perfect place, and its relevant narratives for humanity are an example of what everyone in society would dream of when it comes to the question of what a good life really is.
Additionally, most religions that existed long, even before the conceptualization of “utopia” by Thomas More, have their primary belief systems tailored around the concept of utopianism, such as those of heaven and hell. No one can deny the fact that religions influence a considerable number of people today, even more than they did in ancient times (Sargent 12). Heaven and hell, as understood from a religious perspective, are places where life continues after death. The existence of heaven and hell in the thoughts of many people influenced by various religious ideologies today and in ancient times is an act of extending life, with the hope of existing in yet another place after death. The heavenly and hell beliefs even go further to conceptualize the idea of “eternal life,” which promises a second life, one which is much different from the one that exists in the practical world, which is limited by death, in the fact that eternal life has no end (Alicino 28). The notion of the life of eternity, as depicted in religious narratives, shows the element of immortality, which is an act of humanity to confront the grim reality of death through hope, which illustrates the relationship between human nature and utopianism.
Utopianism is undeniably connected to the social and cultural fabric of society from ancient times to the modern-day conceptualization of the consequential understanding of actions. The social and cultural aspects of life are largely influenced by religious beliefs that ascertain rewards and punishments based on the actions that one chooses in one’s daily activities. Eventual reward and punishment systems are classic examples of utopianism influencing daily human lives and society as a whole. This is based on the idea that one who behaves in a particular way will eventually receive a certain type of treatment. It is quite clear at this point to note the idea of religious eutopia, which promises that one who goes to heaven will live “happily ever after” with all the good experiences that people on earth always wish for, no pain, and nothing of struggles exists in heaven (Alicino 29).
On the other hand, the concept of hell, to anyone with a fair understanding of the concept of utopianism can see the element of dystopia in religion. Hell is a dystopia depiction, a conceptualization of all the unpleasant experiences that can exist, which is said to belong to people who will meet eternal pain and suffering (Alicino 30). In both accounts of heaven and hell as eutopia and dystopia, respectively, it is undeniably true that people who believe in religion in society tend to structure their lives in conformity to the principles that incline towards the achievement of the good life after death and avoid what might lead them to pain as much as possible.
Utopianism is very prevalent today in modern societies and is profoundly depicted in various forms, including in fantasy literature, narratives, and science fiction, which considerably influence how people think. One example of a utopian fairy tale is the classical 17th-century work by Margaret Cavendish, popularly known as the “Blazing World,” which she conceptualizes through fiction. This fantastical realm is morally, socially, economically, and politically superior to what exists in the real world (Khanna 17). Although met with relentless criticism and opposition from more serious literary scholars, fantasy tales are processors of utopianism, both in utopian and dystopian tropes. There is no shortage of fantasy fairytale literature today, which enjoys a considerable amount of attention from readers who enjoy the “unrealistic” ideas and conceptualizations that these works portray. Fairy tale works of literature are more appealing to people because they offer a fantasy imagination of something better than what people see and experience in their daily lives or even that promise or foresee unimaginable depictions of unpleasant eventualities. Most of the fantasy stories in contemporary literature influence the imaginations of how the social, cultural, and economic situation could be restructured to create a better world (Khanna 15). What makes these fantasy narratives in literature related to utopianism is the fact that they are anticipatory, which could influence the lives of a considerable number of readers. All fantasy narratives that exist today and those that existed in the past have one common characteristic, which is that they all retreat from reality, hence, utopian.
Science fiction is among the contemporary utopian tropes, which today remains one of the most influential genres in both literature and films and significantly shapes the way people conceptualize the future in both utopian and dystopian depictions. In science fiction, there are various elements, including utopian worldly paradise and the existence of life that is externally altered, such as unnatural existences becoming possible, either through human or supernatural capabilities (Moylan n p). More science fiction depictions in films and videos today, however, overwhelmingly tend to lean towards dystopia than they do for eutopia. Most productions of science fiction illustrate the possible worst-case scenarios that could happen to contemporary societies or in the near future, and no one can deny that science fiction has serious ramifications and influence in the political sphere. For example, it cannot be denied from a political standpoint that the nuclear threat, the possibility of a potential nuclear confrontation, is the most feared occurrence in the world (Chayt n p). Up to this moment, there is no shortage of production fictional films and books that explore the possible tragedy that would happen if a nuclear war ensued, illustrating the consequences as those of existential threat to humanity (Kenyon 123). This element of science fiction is dystopian, which, when imagined and conceptualized through various depictions, represents how easy it is for the world to face an apocalyptic end, which influences the political sphere to enhance the behaviors that lean towards avoiding as much as possible, the occurrence of a nuclear confrontation, and therefore it is clear that utopianism influences the daily activities.
Conclusively, utopianism as a concept is always present in the everyday activities in society, seen in the way the conceptualization of possible events, whether good or awful, influences the actions of people, either towards working towards achieving the dreams of a better future, or work to avoid the possibility of a perceived unpleasant futuristic occurrence. Utopianism, as many people tend to believe, does not exist as a response to a perceived or an actual deficiency but seems as a part and parcel of human existence. Eutopia, the positive conceptualization of a good life in the future, and dystopia, the conceptualization of a futuristic apocalyptic occurrence, dominate the structure of societal structures in the social, political, economic, and cultural aspects of human life. Even before the conceptualization of utopia by Thomas More in the 16th century, tropes of utopianism can be decoded from various ancient societies through mythical narratives of noble savages, religious beliefs, and hero worship that influenced societal norms and activities. In modern times, past and contemporary literature also illustrates the ever-existing implications of utopianism in fictional and fantasy literature, such as the “Blazing World” by Margaret Cavendish. Today, it is undeniable that science fiction depictions in both literature and films are among the most influential aspects of contemporary culture in both the social, economic, and political spheres.
Works Cited
Alicino, Francesco. “Heaven on Earth. Utopia and Religion: Interaction and Reciprocal Influences.” Polis. Journal of Political Science 2 (16) 2017: 27–45.
Chayt, Eliot Briklod. Disaster, dystopia, and exploration: science-fiction cinema 1959-1971. Diss. 2014.
Kenyon, Timothy. “Utopia reality reality in social and political theory.” History of Political Thought 3.1 1982: 123–155.
Khanna, Lee Cullen. “The Subject of Utopia: Margaret Cavendish and Her Blazing-World.” Utopian and Science Fiction by Women: Worlds of Difference 1994: 15–34.
Moylan, Thomas. Scraps of the untainted sky: Science fiction, utopia, dystopia. Routledge, 2018.
Sargent, Lyman Tower. “More’s” Utopia”: An interpretation of its social theory.” History of Political Thought 5.2 1984: 195–210.
Sargent, Lyman Tower. “The three faces of utopianism revisited.” Utopian Studies 5.1 1994: 1–37.
write