Opus 2025-398: Beware Utopia

As Americans who believe that we can do anything and achieve our dreams we often fall into the trap of utopia.

Utopia is a perfect political and cultural civilization.  The idea evidently goes back to Plato and The Republic but the term was coined by Sir Thomas More.  When discussing it intellectually most people will concede Utopia is impossible.  In their philosophy of life there are many who think it can be attained.

How does that fit in with what I’m saying?  Some tend to think that there will be perfect solutions instead of compromises.  This is one of the basic differences between what Thomas Sowell calls the constrained vision versus the unconstrained vision.  The left has the unconstrained vision which claims that there are no trade-offs that we can achieve perfection.  While they will admit that there are a few eggs that need to be broken to make the omelette, they assume that it will not be their eggs, but someone else’s.  They believe that the sacrifice you make will be worth it in the long run for the utopia that they want to run and live in.  They will be glad to let you mow their lawn as a reward.

I see this in headlines where people condemn political leaders, such as Netanyahu of Israel.  Is he perfect?  That’s really a stupid question for someone who doesn’t believe in utopia.  Nothing and no one is perfect except for God himself.  The question is not is he perfect the question is, “Is he the best alternative among the choices available?”  The same can go for government policies.  Are they perfect?  No.  They will never be perfect for all people.  It’s possible that tyrants and autocrats can set up a system which is perfect for them, but they overlook all the bleeding corpses that they leave behind them on their journey to utopia.

People who rant about democracy, tend to believe in utopia.  They ignore the long history of democracy, quickly degenerating into tyranny and aristocratic rule.  Our federal Republic was designed knowing that perfection was impossible, that people are flawed, and that we need protections from people who think they know what’s best for us.  It is designed based on trade-offs, and going for the possible solution not the perfect one.

So when you vote, don’t expect the perfect candidate.  When you speak up in a meeting, don’t demand that everything be perfectly matched up.  Be realistic.  Be optimistic. Be persistent. Don’t believe in utopia.

homo unius libri