How Can We Achieve Utopia?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tom McCurdy
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of achieving Utopia, inspired by the themes in "Brave New World." Participants explore various ideas, challenges, and philosophical implications regarding the feasibility of a perfect society, touching on human nature, governance, and societal structures.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants argue that Utopia requires everyone to work hard and desire the same things, while others believe that human nature, characterized by greed and ambition, makes Utopia impossible.
  • A few suggest that extreme measures could create a happier environment, while others propose rebuilding society with specific types of people or advanced technology, such as robots, to eliminate labor.
  • There is a contention about whether humanity's inherent traits are predominantly selfish or if the majority are decent, with differing views on the impact of societal influences on behavior.
  • Some participants express skepticism about the possibility of Utopia, suggesting that any attempt may lead to dystopia instead, highlighting the fragility of such constructs.
  • Several contributions discuss the role of religion in promoting altruism without the expectation of reward as a potential foundation for a Utopian society.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion features multiple competing views on the nature of humanity and the feasibility of Utopia. There is no consensus on whether Utopia is achievable or what specific conditions would be necessary to create such a society.

Contextual Notes

Participants express various definitions of Utopia and its prerequisites, indicating that the discussion is limited by subjective interpretations of human nature and societal structures.

  • #31
well if you had robots do all of the work, that would bring need down to zero, and costs of production to zero then you woudld have to divide the land equally, and if you live in a city, all the houses would have to be the same size, but all items would be free and in high supply, so you could go to a store and just get whatever you wanted or needed. so no one would have the need to break into your house and steal anything and such
 
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  • #32
Guys, I would highly recommend two of Huxley's other writings on this subject:

Brave New World Revisited, an essay warning us about how our Western culture (as written in the late 50's) was becoming a Brave New World. Especially interesting on how the West was giving up its freedoms. Surprisingly topical.

Island: Huxley's final book. A truly utopian vision of a culture based on the development of the human spirit, with the aid of mescaline and Tantric sex, no less :!) A damn fine read, whatever your hangups about sex, drugs, and Bach's Brandenberg Concerto #4.
 

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