- Capitalism and Alternatives -

Utopianism and its confusants in this room

Posted by: Joel Jacobson ( anti-Utopians, USA ) on February 09, 1999 at 20:36:32:

There seems to be a little misunderstanding as to the nature of Utopianism. The first utopian probably was Plato but the term was coined by Thomas More in his book, co-incidentally (just kidding), titled Utopia.

All Utopians have this in common: they seek to overthrow, the methods vary, any current existing order they don't consider rational and replace it with one that has been specifically designed, a priori, instead of spontaneously evolved. I only read excerpts of Utopia in Western Lit class and don't think More specifically advocated overthrow; but we can rationally surmise that he advocated some radical changes based upon his limited, personal observations of social phenomema.

The price mechanism is a millenia old historically evolved social tool. From the above description anyone advocating its overthrow should regard themselves as utopian in nature. However, this also goes for other theories as well; Ayn Rand didn't advocate pretty much the opposite, but I personally consider her an Utopian.

I am opposed to utopianism in all its manifestations.


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