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A Dystopia is only recognizable when juxtaposed against a state that is much different from it. That is, a Dystopia would develop over time, with many not even
by afpx 8y ago
A Dystopia is only recognizable when juxtaposed against a state that is much different from it. That is, a Dystopia would develop over time, with many not even recognizing the gradual changes; it's not something that develops suddenly. For example, it's not hard to imagine that our world could be considered a Dystopia to some who lived hundreds or thousands of years ago. Or, it could even be considered a Utopia to others. Utopias and Dystopias are only interesting as thought experiments to imagine what Humans could be possible about. There's never actually been one or nor will there ever be one.
- pixl97 8y agoMany people would consider North Korea a dystopia now.
- winchling 8y ago>Utopias and Dystopias are only interesting as thought experiments to imagine what Humans could be possible about They both have the property that progress has ended; that we have ceased learning about reality. An undesirable state to be in! Yet ideas of utopias and dystopias have been used to advance the careers/interests/ambitions of the power-hungry, e.g. when they reluctantly accept power. they don't want power (allegedly) and will cede it when the utopia is achieved (it will never be achieved).
- Retra 8y agoI don't think there's anything inherent to a utopia that means you stop learning about reality. If anything, you should expect anything you learn about reality to have maximally broad impact according to its relevance to people's lives. There's nothing about a perfect organization of society that implies a steady, non-adaptive state.
- winchling 8y agoHow can anything have an impact if there are no problems? How can there be problems if the arrangements are perfect? How can anything which is perfect be improved? etc.
- Retra 8y agoWhy would there be no problems? What is perfect is the ability of society to solve problems, not the whole of existence. A utopia is a state of social order, not a state of reality.
- winchling 8y agoThe problem here is that problems are connected to problems in other fields, and that solving problems always creates new problems. So a notionally perfect social and political order could only be achieved by halting progress in all other fields.