Comments on: Philosophical notions of Utopia and Progress http://curatedmatter.org/2009/07/05/philosophical-notions-of-utopia-and-progress/ Curated Matter is a collaborative enterprise that wants to catalyse societal debate by curating exhibitions and events. Thu, 13 Oct 2011 18:34:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: bruchansky http://curatedmatter.org/2009/07/05/philosophical-notions-of-utopia-and-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-103 bruchansky Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:01:06 +0000 http://curatedmatter.org/?p=126#comment-103 Thanks Ron for this comment. Indeed, how to conciliate the utopia of a society with personal ideals? Are they mutually exclusive? Maybe the answer is anarchism. On the other hand, many personal ideals assume some kind of authority. An utopian society should tolerate the ideals of its members. But it has also to make choices, which cannot satisfy the ideals of everyone. There is maybe a trade-off to make. Thanks Ron for this comment. Indeed, how to conciliate the utopia of a society with personal ideals? Are they mutually exclusive?

Maybe the answer is anarchism. On the other hand, many personal ideals assume some kind of authority.

An utopian society should tolerate the ideals of its members. But it has also to make choices, which cannot satisfy the ideals of everyone. There is maybe a trade-off to make.

]]> By: Ron Lightning http://curatedmatter.org/2009/07/05/philosophical-notions-of-utopia-and-progress/comment-page-1/#comment-37 Ron Lightning Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:50:30 +0000 http://curatedmatter.org/?p=126#comment-37 A stimulating evening; much food for thought. I personaly regard Utopia's as being a literary genre. I'm thoinking of Wells,More and Bacon (The New Atlantis).These conceptions tend to be static societies; wellordered and free from social problems. They are worthwhile reading for they help to stimulate one's thoughts about society. In actual societies individuals have ideals; something personal which they hope to realise in their lives. So idealism is distinct from utopianism. Both are useful concepts. The problem as I see it is to know how to organise society giving the individual freedom to pursue personal goals,Creativity and aspirations are human needs, and to pursue them in a multicultural society is very difficult, Tolerance and empathy are in my mind necessary ingredients in our thinking about Utopian societies. We need to express ourselves, but not at the expense of others. A stimulating evening; much food for thought.
I personaly regard Utopia’s as being a literary genre. I’m thoinking of Wells,More and Bacon (The New Atlantis).These conceptions tend to be static societies; wellordered and free from social problems. They are worthwhile reading for they help to stimulate one’s thoughts about society.
In actual societies individuals have ideals; something personal which they hope to realise in their lives. So idealism is distinct from utopianism.
Both are useful concepts. The problem as I see it is to know how to organise society giving the individual freedom to pursue personal goals,Creativity and aspirations are human needs, and to pursue them in a multicultural society is very difficult, Tolerance and empathy are in my mind necessary ingredients in our thinking about Utopian societies. We need to express ourselves, but not at the expense of others.

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