Eastercon (Odyssey 2010) has started off today and the first panel discussion I went to was titled: Utopia - how the concept has developed in sci-fi and philosophy.
As might be expected with such a title, much, if not all, the discussion centred around the usual things: what ideas have been presented in the past, what the panelists' own views are, is a utopia even possible. You know, wading through 50 minutes to find a few pellets of gold, like 1) on average, utopian communities that have been tried in the west last 18 months; 2) the most successful utopian communities have been religious oriented; 3) there's not even really a concensus on what a utopian society would fundamentally entail.
I believe these are the pellets of gold because they give the fundamental clues about the 'true' nature of a utopia. The secret...if anyone is wondering...is the same as it is for much of life. In short, a utopia is purely a frame of mind. If one believes they live in a utopia, then they do. Simple. This lends to the understanding of why religious groups are most successful with utopian societies--because both are about belief.
An ideal, physical utopia is logically impossible since everyone will have their own view of what a utopia is. Which suggests the way (dare I say, the ONLY way) to create a Utopia. One must make the population believe they are in a utopia. Classically, the could involve methods of propaganda or other brainwashing. Futuritically, it could involve more direct, technological means (subliminal messages in television shows...).
Typically, the discussions at such a panel has issues of class. i.e. partial utopias, a utopia for the upper class, while the lower classes toil their fingers to the bones. However, I don't believe this for the simple reason that the upper classes are no more happy than the lower classes. They have an easier life, but there is strong sociological evidence that such a life does not make one happier (indeed, if it did, why would such people continue striving for more...). Another observation to suggest that utopia is in the mind.
When looking at the existing and past cultures, my own belief is that the USA has come closest to achieving this utopian mindset--not only among their own people, but among people around the world. Despite all the problems of the country--attrocious health care, huge disparity of riches, rampant gun abuse, political corruption and abuses, imperialism, war mongering, resource hording--most residents, immigrants, and perhaps even foreigners, believe it is the best country in the world to live. This leads me to believe that the propaganda policies of the American government in the last century have been highly successful in creating the utopian mindset in their population. More evidence to suggest that any future utopia will, first and foremost, require the ability to manipulate or outright control the minds of its populace.
Frightening.
No comments:
Post a Comment