Level of Education
Undergraduate
Abstract
Utopian theorists have long attempted to imagine “perfect” frameworks for human life. From Plato’s description of the ideal, state-centric society in the “Laws”, to Murray Rothbard’s anarcho-capitalist society, theorists have created a myriad of solutions they believe will fix most, if not all, human dilemmas. In analyzing these utopian projects from pragmatic and theoretical perspectives, this paper will argue that utopias are a failed project. Pragmatically, the development of utopia has a long and consistent track record of failure. Even the “successes” of utopian thought are under scrutiny, as they ultimately collapsed. Theoretically, the conceptualization of “perfection” entails unimaginable risk. When the desired goal is perfection, no cost or sacrifice may be considered too great to reach the final stage of human development.
Recommended Citation
Edwards, Maverick
(2021)
"The Failure of Imagination: A Theoretical and Pragmatic Analysis of Utopianism as an Orientation for Human Life,"
Liberty University Journal of Statesmanship & Public Policy: Vol. 1:
Iss.
2, Article 2.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/jspp/vol1/iss2/2