Looking for Utopia.
Some people consider living on a beach a Utopia.
Since the beginning of time, mankind has hoped for a perfect place to live. This perfect place would have plenty of food for everybody, nobody would be poor, the government would be fair and everyone would be happy. Sounds great, right?
In literature, there is a name for such a place. It's called a Utopia (pronounced: yoo-to-peea). A utopia is a perfect place or a perfect way of living.
In literature, there is a name for such a place. It's called a Utopia (pronounced: yoo-to-peea). A utopia is a perfect place or a perfect way of living.
Where did the idea of Utopia come from?
The word Utopia comes from some Greek words and has a couple possible meanings.
One Greek word is ou-topos, which means "no place."
[ou = no]
[topos = land]
The other possible Greek word is almost exactly the same: eu-topos, which means "good place."
[eu = good]
[topos = land]
Why the two possible meanings? For starters, it's hard to figure out exactly where all words came from, so we can't be sure what the original meaning might be. But some people think both meanings are good. A utopia sounds like a good place, but is it really possible to have a utopia?
One Greek word is ou-topos, which means "no place."
[ou = no]
[topos = land]
The other possible Greek word is almost exactly the same: eu-topos, which means "good place."
[eu = good]
[topos = land]
Why the two possible meanings? For starters, it's hard to figure out exactly where all words came from, so we can't be sure what the original meaning might be. But some people think both meanings are good. A utopia sounds like a good place, but is it really possible to have a utopia?
The first person to use the word Utopia as describing a perfect place was Sir Thomas More, who wrote a novel in 1516 called Utopia. In his book, he talked about a mythical island that was a Utopia. The people were wealthy, and everyone had a job and plenty to eat. The people had a good time and nobody was homeless. Everyone was equal, wearing the same clothes and eating the same food.
Has there ever been a Utopia?
As far as we know, there has never been a Utopia that has worked perfectly or for very long, but plenty of people have tried. In fact, in the 18th and 19th Centuries (1700-1899), there were a number of people who tried to create Utopias. Most of these people were small religious communities who believed that by sharing their wealth they could be live at peace and have a Utopia.
Here are a few Utopian societies that have tried to live the dream.
The Shakers
This religious group was founded in England and came over to America at the founding of the country. The people stayed in the New England colonies and led a communal life, which means they lived together and shared everything they had. Everyone had to work and do their part, but everyone shared everything. There are still some Shaker communities today, but they are small.
Brook Farm
Started in Massachusetts and operating from 1841 to 1847, Brook Farm was organized by George Ripley, a minister. The farm attracted many intelligent people of the time and the people who lived in the community received homes, food and work. People came and went and there were never very many people involved in the project.
The Oneida Community
Founded in Oneida, New York, this group was started by religious leader John Humphreys Noyes. His society lived in a giant mansion and shared everything with one another, including their spouses. They had an arrangement where everyone was "married" to everyone else. Eventually it was shut down.
There are many more examples, but most have a few things in common:
Here are a few Utopian societies that have tried to live the dream.
The Shakers
This religious group was founded in England and came over to America at the founding of the country. The people stayed in the New England colonies and led a communal life, which means they lived together and shared everything they had. Everyone had to work and do their part, but everyone shared everything. There are still some Shaker communities today, but they are small.
Brook Farm
Started in Massachusetts and operating from 1841 to 1847, Brook Farm was organized by George Ripley, a minister. The farm attracted many intelligent people of the time and the people who lived in the community received homes, food and work. People came and went and there were never very many people involved in the project.
The Oneida Community
Founded in Oneida, New York, this group was started by religious leader John Humphreys Noyes. His society lived in a giant mansion and shared everything with one another, including their spouses. They had an arrangement where everyone was "married" to everyone else. Eventually it was shut down.
There are many more examples, but most have a few things in common:
- Utopias are small
- Utopias generally start with some sort of religious view
- Utopias are small communities, living together
- Utopias practice hard work for every member
- Utopias share all their stuff
- Utopias don't last very long
What would your Utopia be like?
Imagine you had all the power in the world and you could create your Utopia. What would it be like? Where would it be located? How would it be perfect? What would people do in your utopia? How would you pay for everything? How would people get educated?
YOUR ASSIGNMENT
Write a blog post that describes your Utopia. Explain in detail what your Utopia would be like. Use the questions above to help you come up with your ideas. Also be sure to come up with a name for your Utopia.
YOUR ASSIGNMENT
Write a blog post that describes your Utopia. Explain in detail what your Utopia would be like. Use the questions above to help you come up with your ideas. Also be sure to come up with a name for your Utopia.