"Utopianism" - what is it? As a rule, the interpretation of this concept causes difficulty. It is directly related to the word "utopia". What do these terms mean? What are their similarities and differences? This will be discussed in the proposed review.
Utopia
The interpretation of this concept is presented in the dictionary in two versions:
- One of the genres of fiction that is close to science fiction. He describes the model of an ideal society as the author sees it.
- A beautiful dream that will never come true.
As a literary genre and socio-political modeling, utopia appears in modern times. It can be turned both to the future and to the past. In the second case, an example would be the concept of "primitive communism", "Paradise Lost".
There are also two opinions about the etymology of this lexeme. Some researchers believe that it comes from the ancient Greek οὐ, similar to the negation of "not", which is added to the noun τόπος, meaning "place". According to another version, this wordderived from the ancient Greek εύ, which means "good", and is interpreted as "good place".
Utopianism
This term is also interpreted from two positions:
- Creating plans for the social reorganization of society that do not take into account reality. They are completely divorced from the objective laws underlying social development. As a rule, this term is understood as utopian socialism.
- Unfeasible, unfeasible.
Thus, the considered concepts are very close, but not identical to each other.
Pies on trees
Today, both in the social and philosophical sciences, it is customary to differentiate the concepts of "utopia" and "utopianism".
Utopianism is a type of consciousness that is inherent in human nature. It is expressed in various forms of dreams dedicated to the present or future ideal world. This also includes ideas about paradise, Kokan - a mythical country of abundance. Rivers of wine flow in it, work is punished, and idlers are paid a salary. Pies grow right on trees, you just need to lie under a tree with your mouth open to be always full.
Most often, utopianism lacks a positive realization. However, to a certain extent, being turned to the future, it can influence social development. Since the 19th century, “utopianism” in the public mind has been associated with “socialism” and with totalitarian power.
At its core, utopian consciousness contains premises associated with Rousseauism (the views of J. J. Rousseau, French philosopher). This is faith in the possibility of a holistic person, his nature is good. At the same time, in a good society, there are all opportunities for all its positive abilities to be fully revealed.
Social utopianism
He is a special type of consciousness that has arisen on the basis of a special understanding of utopian quests and ideas and their application. Both utopia and social utopianism have common roots that are associated with (co):
- incomplete history;
- unacceptability of the existing world;
- strive for social harmony.
But at the same time, the “mythical” transformation of the world, inherent in utopia, is replaced in social utopianism by its desire to transform reality into reality, according to the proposed model. The construction of an ideal alternative world by the efforts of the imagination (as in the first case) is replaced by transformations based on revolutionary methods in the name of abstract principles.
In Russia in the 19th century, representatives of utopianism were: Herzen, Ogarev, Belinsky, Petrashevsky, Milyutin. In France, these are Fourier and Saint-Simon, whose works have become one of the sources of the theory of Marxism.
Considering the question that this is utopianism, one cannot fail to mention one of its most famous representatives - Thomas More, the author of Utopia.
Fictional island nation
On his example, Thomas More, philosopher, lawyer, humanist writer, former Lord Chancellor of England in the 16th century,showed how he understands the best system for organizing society. More's utopianism was expressed in his following political views, reflected in the book "Utopia".
- Private property is the cause of all calamities and vices. Together with money, it gives rise to crimes that cannot be eradicated by any sanctions and laws.
- The ideal country (Utopia) is a federation of 54 cities.
- The controls in each of them, as well as their device, are the same. Each of the families owns a certain craft.
- All officials are elected, they form the senate, which is headed by the prince. If he is not involved in tyranny, he is irremovable.
- No private property, crime is rare, so there is no need for complex and extensive legislation.
- The inhabitants of utopia are against the war as a brutal act. But if necessary, prepare for it. Mercenaries are used in hostilities.
In conclusion, it should be noted that, despite all the unreality of utopian projects, they still have their impact on human history, which is very noticeable and quite real.