Utopia vs' Dystopia

1
Utopia vs. Dystopia

• World Views

2
Definitions

• UTOPIA
• A society or a place that is perfect or ideal

• DYSTOPIA
• A society or a place whose imperfection is
  perfect or extreme

3
Common Features of a Utopia

• Contemporary concerns are completely resolved
  (poverty, famine, racism, overpopulation,
  pollution, etc.)
• Individual needs are fulfilled
• Social conflicts are do not exist or are easily
  resolved

• Institutional structure that exists has
  unchallenged, consensus authority granted by the
  people

4
Common Features of a Dystopia

• Contemporary concerns are exaggerated (greater
  inequity, overpopulation, pollution, starvation,
  etc.)
• Oppression of the majority by a ruling elite
• Fear of automazationbeing taken over by our own
  technological developments

• Regimentation of society (lack of freedoms,
  privacy, etc.)
• Basic fears exaggerated (distrust of others,
  unknown health concernsdisease, contaminated
  water, etc)

5
Purpose of Dystopia
Social Commentary

• Lack of action to change things will not produce
  this unavoidable outcome
• Raises ethical questions concerning contemporary
  issuescloning, computerization, nuclear arms,
  etc.
• Images of future society, pointing fearfully at
  the way the world is supposedly going to be, in
  order to provide urgent propaganda for a change
  in direction

6
What can we do with utopian and dystopian visions?

• Imagine our best possible or worst possible
  outcomes of our current trajectory (If we dont
  change things, what is going to happen?)
• Consider the moral and ethical implications of
  current developments

7
The Role of Technology

• In a Utopia technology acts as an enabler,
  helping (if not solely acting) to resolve
  contemporary problems
• Positive role

• In a dystopia
• technology is the cause of exaggerated
  contemporary problems (computers take over
  humans)
• Technology is also the method by which the
  dystopia sustains (technologies of surveillance,
  control, etc.)