life102

Mom always told you that the best things in life were free, or if she was like my mother, she merely agreed with a nod while yelling, "Nasdaq went down another 300 points!" across the house. So maybe it has come that we are all wrapped within the ever-silken cocoon of our lives. We live in luxury, enjoying the vastness and seemed godliness of pleasure.
In the utopia of it all, Philosophers think, Scientists study, Artists create, Servants serve, and Workers work. All seems in harmony as each tradesman converses politely with the other, admiring the handywork of either man. All seems in balance as no man attempts to reach beyond their boundries and every man enjoys the mere pleasures life has to offer.
As man we have two fundamental gifts: Reason and Pleasure. Each man, in such a society, would reason as to their meaning within the universal truth of reality. They would see a common goal, and work as a society to reach that goal. As they searched for this truth, they might make use of our humanity and enjoy life as a path that leads to their universal goals. Along this seemingly beautious path, flowers bloom at all sides, water flows over yonder rolling hills, and each man talks of the ever-growing beauty as they trek together on the path to enlightenment.
As spoke many great philosophers, I dream of a place where wise men will question my presense, where all men enjoy fine wine, clean living, and good company, and where all men ponder the great enigmas of life for all eternity. In such a place, do you not think life would be so pleasant and thought-provoking that every man, woman, and child would be enlightened? Think of the prosperity such a place could bring. If only the world was ruled by the philosophers...
My vision of Utopia is based upon achieving higher meaning and civility of the masses.
Firstly, and most importantly, the first generation of peoples must be striving for enlightenment and have the ability to obtain it. Without the desire to gain, one never will. In a community where gaining enlightenment is a part of everyday life, it will most certainly be obtained. This enlightenment gives civility, moral, reason, and purpose to the lives of the citizens. Thus, peace, balance, and harmony shall also be kept.
Also, I feel that education is an important part of increasing the "civility" and a drive to gain higher meaning in children. Thus, all children of a Utopia would be raised from a young age in a form similar to that of the ancient Greeks. Sucessful philosophers, scientists, mathimatitions, writers, and artists, etc would spend the later years of their lives, after their careers have slowed, teaching their trade on a personal level to the student, who would choose which trade to study and not be forced to learn a bled of everything, for that only leads to insecure, unspecialized, selfish, and bored students.
Also, I have noticed that teaching religions and things of the sort at a young age in improper manners will cause an ignorance within the child as he/she grows and will actually inhibit growth and spirituality. In an ideal society, children would be taught nothing of formal religion, but rather they would be shown the beauty of the world and possibilities of spirituality. All people will be allowed to choose their own path in spirituality, as in all other aspects of life.
However, certain ways of life must be taught. Children, and all people, must learn to respect all existance, to hold onto their personal values, to live selflessly, to take care of all they care for, and to think freely and creatively. People who do not respect others will cause instability and anger among others and within themselves. They must learn to care for others and to be polite and kind to all in order to keep peace. People must also learn to hold onto their values and not let others "currupt" them or their moral. Though this is a dangerous trait to teach, for if taught incorrectly will breed stubbornness and ignorance, it is necesary to keeping a strong and unbreakable community. Children must be also taught to live not simply for themselves. They must learn not to be selfish and uncaring of others, so that as they reach maturity and are stable in their ways of thinking, they will not resort to unhealthy selfish habits such as avarice, gluttony, over-indugance, and greed. People must learn also to take care of those they care for. Children learn this when they break a favorite toy and cry when they find that it was their fault, for example. But, most of all, restrictions must not be placed upon the thought and creativity of any. Any restrictions or inhibitions to this will surely lead to a downfall of culture and ideals.
Mostly, though, a Utopia must be a place of freedom, peace, liberty, temperance, togetherness, wealth, and other traits of the sort. We must all unite to form such a grand world, and it can be done one person at a time. Utopia will surely bring peace to all.
However, current society is not all as such. People go to war, suffer, and die hungry and overworked. One man kills for another's means of happiness. Law is all anarchy, dictatorship, or some blend of the two. People run wild in the streets as cheap and animalistic thrills, fueled by their unhappiness and ignorance. Women sell their bodies to beggars, cheats, savages, and fools of men as a means to pay their rent. Peices of once god-like flesh pace about our streets in ignorance of the universe they call their possesion. A mere million or so have the capacity to observe such creatures as the animals they are, and even fewer have the will to contain them, and even fewer than that desire to take action against or away from such creatures. Maybe there are some who also desire Utopia, but the world may never know until such a thing is shown to each and every person.