The Attainable Utopias Vision

See also the Metadesigners Open Network

Why Dystopia Often Seems Nearer Than Utopia

• Resource wars have begun.
• Biological diversity is declining
• The gap between rich and poor is widening
• Why can’t we respond effectively? – because we always separate economics from ecology.
• Why don’t planners plan? – because they are taught to follow rules, rather than designing.
• Why don’t politicians look ahead? – because democracy was scaled-up for empire, not community
• Why won’t a legislative approach work? – bureaucratic approaches (e.g. carbon-trading, energy taxes) tackle the symptoms, not the causes.
• Why don’t citizens dream? – because globalized capitalism turned us into passive choosers (i.e. consumers).
• What happens when you forget how to dream? – much of what is possible becomes ‘unthinkable’.

What measures would be effective?

• Only a full paradigm shift will work
• We need imaginative, joined-up solutions that transform our beliefs, habits and culture.

Micro-utopias are unattainable unless we imagine them

• imagine a more benign world that satisfies our deepest needs…
• but before we try to build it...
• it emerges — almost magically — by itself
• hold onto this idea....

The Importance of Envisioning...

• Society needs to foster a shared willingness to 'dream'
• By 'dreaming' we mean 'daring to think beyond the possible').
• Many political systems lack imagination or shared, aspirational vision
• This is why words such as Utopia or wisdom are seldom used (see also Utopia-Britannica)
• As voters and consumers we are merely critics and choosers
• In effect, we have forgotten how to dream

We envision

• A world beyond narrow pragmatism and representative politics
• A wiser society in which individuals voluntarily enhance one another's potential.
• This might, eventually produce a synergy-of-synergies.
• Our vision emphasises the importance of 'vision'
• So we advocate far more consensual envisioning within politics.
• Unfortunately, vision can become lost in squabbles over 'truth', 'method', or 'ideology'.
• This is why we do not wish to become a sect, political party, or rule-bound organisation

Is Utopia Attainable?

• When English people say: pigs might fly they mean that something is unattainable...''
• In many ways, a single, total ‘Utopia’ may be neither attainable, nor even desirable.
• Human societies usually run according to common rules or shared beliefs...
• A Utopian world is a contradiction if it means that everyone must follow rules.

Is ours an Auspicious Vision?

• Although a single (big 'U') Utopia may be undesirable and unattainable...
• ...a network of ‘micro-utopias’ (i.e. transient, local, or immediate utopias) is attainable
• Logically speaking, this is true only if we believe it to be...
• ...and we will never believe in it unless we can imagine it.

The Right to Imagine What We Want

• In 2001 Au founders, John Wood? and Andrew Carmichael met in London to discuss the future.
• In reflecting upon previous millennia they became were puzzled by recent events.
• Why had humanity failed to create any clear, positive 'vision' for the future?
• Although we have never had so much access to so many resources, knowledge, and technology...
• ...our society was becoming increasingly pessimistic, alienated and cynical. Why?
• In politics a vision-less brand of pragmatism was emerging in politics and industry.
• Maybe this had turned voters and consumers into choosers and complainers, rather than dreamers.
• If this analysis is correct the future looks bleak.
• Without new dreams, humanity will become extinct.
• This is why they coined the term ‘Attainable Utopias’.

...you can believe in miracles...

• It may eventually be possible (logically speaking) to design miracles.
• The Attainable Utopias Network therefore invites you to take the first step with us.
• Start by envisioning the world you would like to create for your children....and their children...and their children, and....