Utopia: An Unattainable Model

            Throughout the first week of this intensive, we have been exploring several utopian societies. In my opinion, none of the societies we have delved into can be a utopia. While most would crave a world rid of greed, power, and violence, we must realize that these are all a part of who we are as humans. It is human nature to compete with one another, surpass limitations and expectations, challenge authority and oneself, and follow one’s dreams. In order to achieve a peaceful and egalitarian utopia, not only we will lose these innate characteristics of our humanity, but we will also find that our human emotions will be limited, for emotions can lead to disheartenment. An invaluable emotion such as love would have to be constrained because of the negative feelings that it can cause. We would be stripped of our human right and freedom to love and be loved. Thus, humans cannot attain utopia.

            This is not to say, however, that striving for utopia is futile. Utopia, in my opinion, is much more useful to us as a model that we can use to alter and restructure our societies rather than a destination that we try to reach. As implied by the Allegory of the Cave in Plato’s The Republic, using philosophy to analyze different societies would allow us to understand what a truly just society would look like. We can strive to implement certain achievable and beneficial characteristics of the societies we study into our own societies. By adopting the family-like culture of More’s utopia and of the society of the cannibals described by Montaigne, our societies would develop a deeper concern for those in need and would make a greater effort to come to their aid. Though the Jewish and Christian bibles do not necessarily provide a clear picture of utopia like More and Montaigne do, they explain that in order to improve our societies, we must respect everyone and be kind, peaceful, forgiving, righteous, and altruistic. Though utopia can only exist in theory and imagination, it can be a model for the real societies that are a part of today’s world.