My Sunday Thought for 060318: Utopia?

"Thomas More coined the neologism utopia for his 1516 work that launched the modern genre for a good reason. The word means “no place” because when imperfect humans attempt perfectibility—personal, political, economic and social—they fail. Thus, the dark mirror of utopias are dystopias—failed social experiments, repressive political regimes, and overbearing economic systems that result from utopian dreams put into practice."

--Michael Shermer, publisher, "Skeptic" magazine

"When imperfect humans attempt perfectibility - personal, political, economic and social - they fail."  This statement by Michael Shermer, publisher of Skeptic magazine, is evidenced by a sad history of "failed social experiments, repressive political regimes, and overbearing economic systems that result from utopian dreams put into practice."  When you read about these "experiments," from the outset it would seem they have all the righteous intent which the people would be apt to buy into.  But what is one person's "righteous intent" is another's personal agenda for riches and domination; righteous intent falls prey to ego and greed, and usually from the beginning... if not before.  But, why can't such an idea of "perfection" take hold in a righteous way?  Maybe because the universe requires "balance" in order to exist.

What is one person's utopia is another's dystopia; two sides of the coin we call balance.  If we all looked at the world as perfect, would we be able to recognize when it was not?  If you only live in light, how would you recognize dark as the absence of it?  There must be evil to know there is good.  There must be dark to know there is light.  There must be poor to know there is rich.  There must be up to know there is down, and there must be a "head" on one side of the coin so you so you have the choice of the "tail" on the other; without them the game might never start without an argument.  Balance is useful, but does balance require a freedom of choice?

The utopian ideal can only be achieved if we allow freedom of thought, but this "freedom" of thought would have to be controlled to ensure it is "correct" thought, so it really wouldn't be freedom.  The need for balance defies the utopian model.  Freedom itself denotes an agreed upon non-control of an individual's rights which will be determined by reasonable laws, which strike a balance agreed upon by the majority of a society.

“There is a tyranny in the womb of every Utopia.”

-- Bertrand De Jouvenel (1903-1987), philosopher, economist, futurist

Why does utopian philosophy become repressive?  Because the only way a society will ever agree on anything is if the premise, enactment, and enforcement, is dictated to the free thinking populace by a leadership.  Oh, and that would be a dictatorship, and we know for a fact those fail all the time.  Remember the coin?  Had the idea of chance been dictated and freedom of choice repressed, the lack of the coin toss might not be as agreeable as is fact that it's a time honored agreement by both teams as to who gets to choose how the game starts - kick or receive.   But, I digress.

The utopian ideal would seem to reflect all the tenets of socialism and communism, both with their own rich histories of failure due to repression.  And Marxism, that groundwork for socialism and communism, seems to bear out what I say about balance.

"Utopia is the process of making a better world, the name for one path history can take, a dynamic, tumultuous, agonizing process, with no end."

-- Kim Stanley Robinson, science fiction author

Marxism is philosophy, a social theory, which laid the groundwork for socialism and communist doctrine.  Marxism has morphed into multiple schools of thought.  One must remember that Marxism was simply an opinion, an idea put forth by two philosophers.  Followers of the theory have tried to enact it as social movements, movements in which religion is relegated to "the opium of the people."  My opinion is that these followers forgot to incorporate a system of balance.   

One might say Marxism is the antithesis of pure capitalism, and both can benefit from a healthy dose of each other.  The system might not fail if adherents would learn to incorporate the best of the old system with the best of the new, a lesson in balance only a few discover in time to stave off disaster. For instance, the socialist Soviet Union wanted their Levi blue jeans, and they removed the Berlin wall and downsized into the Russian Federation giving more freedoms and control back to the separate regions.  Communist China gave their people the ability to practice a little capitalism for the sake of their economy, and is now a rising economic powerhouse.  The problem with Marxist governments is they forget about the indomitable, richly robust, human spirit which cannot be held back.  We must be more than we are, not because the "state" says so, because we have to be. 

I love to discuss topics which are so totally over my head, and this oft times makes me sound like an idiot; yes, I am aware of it. This is a good reason for finding knowledgeable people to quote, like Barbara Foley, of Rutgers University, who offers this about Marxism, which I tend to agree with:

"But Marxism is not equivalent to everything that has been performed in its name. Marx’s work remains, to my mind, the most compelling framework for analyzing how the conflicting tendencies in present-day society contain the seeds of a more humane future."

-- Barbara Foley, Distinguished Professor of English and American Studies, Rutgers University

It would, indeed, seem to be all about finding a balance.  But, this is just my opinion, and I could be way off base and sounding, as I stated, like an idiot.  As always, I invite my readers to offer up any constructive comments and questions, remembering that my email is also available for those less comfortable with commenting publicly.  I retain the right to reprint any comments without revealing the source unless authorized to do so, or unless you're being a totally nonconstructive jackass (which has only happened once and, feeling generous, I even gave her a pass). 

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider another viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 23 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with a world renowned Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, to wage his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as lead Chaplain and Chaplain Program Liaison, at the regional medical center.