A Better Life Feature Article: Utopia

The literal meaning of Utopia is actually “no place” or “place that does not exist”. Utopia is the perfect; ideal but unattainable place that everyone strives towards to. This imaginary place has the ideal civilisation and society.

There is a utopia in every one’s hearts. A lot of people are dissatisfied with their lot in their life. They feel that there is a utopia that once reached will instantly grant them happiness. However this is a very misleading miscomprehension.

Utopia does not and never will exist in reality. The idea of utopia is simply too optimistic and unrealistic and impossible to realize. “Utopia” is a compound of the syllable eu, meaning good, and topos, meaning place. But the homonymous prefix ou, with the meaning “no,” also resonates in the word: the perfectly “good place” is really “no place.”The classic Utopia is a multi- faceted place. It is perfect in every way.

Utopia

Utopia

A bottle of Samuel Adams Utopia beer

The evils of society, eg: poverty and misery, are all removed. The society encourages tolerance of all religions. Most utopias are set sometime in the distant future where advanced science and technology will allow utopian living standards.

However those all deal with utopia as a the world within which everyone lives. There is also another kind of Utopia. That of the individual.

Everyone has their own individual and unique utopias. For example, a school student’s utopia could be something as simple as no school, ever… period. With every day spent sitting at home and watching TV and eating junk food. However for a working adult that utopia changes. It would probably be more complex and maybe slightly more realistic. Something along the terms of their boss walking under a bus the next day or their rival for a promotion suddenly falling down the stairs and breaking...