Throughout
this intensive, I have been given the opportunity to ponder over the idea of
utopia and of humans striving for utopia. On the very first day, we were asked
to jot down what our opinion was of utopia. That day, I paid credence to the notion
that utopia is impossible, for I knew that everyone has a different idea of
what perfect is. Still, however, my idea that utopia is a dream that cannot be realized seemed a bit
like an impulse. I felt that I didn’t have enough reason behind what I
believed. As the intensive unfolded, I have been able to expand on my initial beliefs and provide reason for my initial impulse feeling.
Through my reading of Berlin’s “The Pursuit of the Ideal”, it has been pointed out to me that societies always have problems. If we initiate a change to our societies in an attempt to make them more like the utopias we imagine, we will run into new unpredicted problems and can even encounter dystopias. We cannot predict the future, therefore, we will never be able to decipher the consequences of our actions. The changes we implement may do more bad than good.
Reflecting back on all our class discussions and nightly readings, I have also been able to understand that utopia is not attainable by humans because in order for utopia to exist, many of the innate characteristics of our humanity cannot exist. It is natural for us, as humans, to compete with one another, surpass limitations, challenge others, and strive to be one’s best self. Since it is impossible to suppress these human tendencies, it is impossible to create a world without them.
Rules and legislations cannot inch us closer to utopia. The only way for us humans to reach happiness is to create it in our minds. Were we to view our world in a more positive light, happiness would be spread. Pessimism is the enemy and our minds are our weapons. Although our world has several flaws, we cannot waste our time droning on them. What we can do is look out for one another like the Amish. What we can do is avoid criticizing and judging one another. What we can do is come together and solve our problems as a team.
Through my reading of Berlin’s “The Pursuit of the Ideal”, it has been pointed out to me that societies always have problems. If we initiate a change to our societies in an attempt to make them more like the utopias we imagine, we will run into new unpredicted problems and can even encounter dystopias. We cannot predict the future, therefore, we will never be able to decipher the consequences of our actions. The changes we implement may do more bad than good.
Reflecting back on all our class discussions and nightly readings, I have also been able to understand that utopia is not attainable by humans because in order for utopia to exist, many of the innate characteristics of our humanity cannot exist. It is natural for us, as humans, to compete with one another, surpass limitations, challenge others, and strive to be one’s best self. Since it is impossible to suppress these human tendencies, it is impossible to create a world without them.
Rules and legislations cannot inch us closer to utopia. The only way for us humans to reach happiness is to create it in our minds. Were we to view our world in a more positive light, happiness would be spread. Pessimism is the enemy and our minds are our weapons. Although our world has several flaws, we cannot waste our time droning on them. What we can do is look out for one another like the Amish. What we can do is avoid criticizing and judging one another. What we can do is come together and solve our problems as a team.
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