Instead of focusing too much on all of the things that are currently wrong, could you please help paint a picture of what a future utopian society could look like?
My vision is heavily inspired by Terence McKenna. I imagine a world as it might have existed during prehistoric times. Lush forests teeming with exotic wildlife, clean air, and crystal clear water. No highways full of billboards, no parking lots, no shopping malls, and no cars. Just safe grounds and paths for humans embedded deep within all of this nature.
At a birds-eye view, it may look as if humanity has completely abandoned technology and regressed back into its childhood. Yet if you were to look out through the eyes of one of these utopian people, you would see the most wonderful augmented reality display.
Information, communication, entertainment, education, global economies… almost everything has been de-materialized. Humanity’s ceaseless pursuit of technology has been mostly divorced from our physical environment and mother earth is bustling with life again.
The only technologies that remain in the real world are those that help all of us live happy and healthy lives (modern medicine, delicious food, solar power, etc) all the while the shared virtual reality in our eyes is limited only by our collective imaginations.
We are finally living in accord with nature without having to forsake our innate desire for knowledge and progress.
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Everyone acting in good faith all the time. Yeah, it’s impossible.
I would assert that most problems are caused by ignorance, not malice.
Doesn’t even need to be that good. Start with what northern Europe has, eat the rich, keep improving.
One of those things is not like the others. Northern Europe is not even that great.
Star Trek
But which one? (Like I need to ask) Next Generation.
BTW came to say ST
- democracy with citizens having more power and having the ability to revoke a representative by vote if they turn out to be a dick
- Mix of socialism / communism ideals that offer the best of both worlds that gives the people control while also supplying the needs of the people
- no scarcity
- equality
- No discrimination
- solarpunk
- capitalism is abolished
- high quality of life
- needs of the population met
- Complete automation of production, repetitive tasks and menial tasks so humans can enjoy life
It is an egalitarian society where we all work for one another’s benefit. I can really dream can’t I. I like the idea of anarcho-communism in the style that was very much common in Native American societies prior to the racist/bigoted European settlers. This kind of society everyone was important and everyone played a key role in the success of the society. A leader acted more as a facilitator and less as an authority figure.
All people guaranteed a baseline lifestyle. Housing, food, clean water, healthcare, electricity, internet. Everyone contributes to maintaining infrastructure in some way, would probably require 10-20 hours a week. Beyond that, people free to do what they want. Garden, make art, invent new things, whatever.
I’m deeply skeptical of any and all utopian ideas. They have this mysterious tendency to wander down paths to authoritarianism because we, as a species, are more defined by our ideas of who and what we are than by anything else in our existence.
When an idea becomes an ideal, people become willing to kill or die in attempts to bring that ideal to fruition, no matter how vain.
In fact, this is how I self-edit my own beliefs about the world and myself. “If the cards were all really on the table, would I be willing to proudly die in defense of this idea?” If the answer is yes, then I cling to that as an ideal that I strive toward.
All human lives matter equally.
It is important to lift up those who have less than I do.
Any small effort to alleviate the suffering of my fellow humans is meaningful.
There is always hope.That is the utopia I choose to live in deliberately every day, and what I appreciate most is that it is resilient to the whims and chaos of this world that I can’t control.
Income inequality would be lower in my ideal world. The income distribution should be more like the 50’s. A 4 day work week, and eradication of this “central business district” idea. There can still be offices for some people, but offices can be more geographically dispersed, with different sectors in different areas so half the city isn’t trying to get to one spot in the mornings, or leave that one spot in the evenings.
I can’t say that I agree with your vision of an ideal society, but it sounds pretty good if you want to keep capitalism and capitalists
A world in which everyone is able to freely pursue their interests and desires without constantly having to worry about their well-being or safety. A world untainted by incessant manipulation, greed, and narrow minded prejudice. A world with neigh unlimited access to education and information. Where ideas, beliefs, and scientific discovery can flow freely without political agendas or personal vendettas always getting in the way.
Oh, and no more mosquitoes, billionaires, or people that talk in the theatre. They get a special place in hell.
We in Lithuania have a mosquito-free summer this year :)
To add to some that the others said: A world federation.
After the European Union eventually grew together to the European federation, many nations pushed to cooperate against worldwide problems. This eventually resulted in the continuous strengthening of the United Nations. Over time, nationality became more and more meaningless until eventually the point was reached that any of us only consider themselves part of the United Nations of earth. At last, humanity united.
Realistically? Something a lot like what we currently have, but with everyone having access to prompt healthcare, living in comfort. A focus on community and cooperation being more dominant in the culture, rather than competition and comparison.
Where the billionaires pay their fair share in taxes
There just aren’t any billionaires.
Meditation, study, gardening, self improvement are paid jobs. We’ve given freedom to those who are able to use it in a responsible manner. Hard labor is a 4 to 5 hour gig that we take turns doing, not because we are forced to, but because we understand the necessity and value of the work. Work is not seen as something we must do to have a house and food, but it is seen as participating in our society.
Compassion, tolerance, and freedom are primal virtues.
Personally I love work, I love the feeling of charity, I love learning how to better myself.
I still disagree with the capitalism though
Sure. It’s just, communism is not an answer. It’s human nature that fucks up these systems. We need to address human nature
Networked, autonomous local communities.
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Mine consides with yours, except it’s a bit more techy. We’d still need someone to grow food for everyone on the planet, and that’s where robots come in… and for everything else that is just tedious or repetitive to do. We’d also need central coordination regarding things like solar panel control, or nuclear power plant control, so a central AI will most probably dominate on all devices.
There is no currency, we have an advanced socialist society. We don’t have polititians, we have “shamans” (people that guide the rest and keep the social piece, as well as uphold the values of the society). These people are not chosen by elections, they’re groomed from youngsters to be leaders and embedded with the values this society upholds the most. Of course, they’re carefully screened and chosen, based on certain tests that all children have to take, and scored on that (compassion and other highly valued human traits that are considered weaknesses in today’s society, leadership skills, etc.).
