Utopia is Unachievable

I have learned that utopia is not achievable.  Every person has a different version of the perfect world and most visions refute each other.  For example, in Berlin’s Pursuit of the Ideal the author states that there are many different types of an ideal society.  He states that a rational man can have many different ambitions.  What I learned from the Zoar and Shaker societies is that a lack of zeal can be the bane of an intentional community striving to be a utopia.  The Zoar society did not require much belief in the communal society and people did not feel an obligation to stay within the community.  The Shakers, however, needed a large commitment to be a successful society.  Most people were not willing to make the commitment, which has led to the demise of the Shaker society.  In Gulliver’s Travels, Jonathan Swift shows that a utopia is possible, but not with humans.  Only the unfeeling Houyhnhnms were able to live in an arguably utopia like society.  However, the Amish live in a life that is nearly a utopia.  Unfortunately, the outside world prevents them to live a completely utopian life.  The Amish have to debate about technology that outsiders are introducing.  Sometimes, outsiders improve the lives of the Amish.  Non-Amish have improved healthcare that the Amish are willing to use.  Without outsiders, the Amish would not be as close to a utopia in healthcare.  Until healthcare improves enough that the Amish can disconnect themselves completely, they will never even have a chance at a utopia.