There are two versions of the origin of the word utopia.This place, according to the first of them, which does not have (u - no, topos - place Gr.).And the second - a blessed country (eu - the good, topos - place).The term was first used in the title of the book Thomas Moore.Later he became a household name, denoting various fictional country with a perfect social order and unrealistic plans, contained in the writings and treatises on various social reforms.
Utopia - is an expression of the interests of certain social groups that are not usually in charge.It performs important cognitive, educational and ideological functions.Often it served as a form of expression of the revolutionary ideology.
also a utopia - it is a unique form of social consciousness, aimed at the comprehension of the social ideal, trying to anticipate the future, the criticism of the existing order.In the Renaissance, it was expressed in the description of the perfect state that if somewhere has ever existed before.Its spread, she received in the ancient and medieval China (writings of Lao-tzu, Mo-tzu), as well as the peoples of the Middle East (Avempace, Al-Farabi).
In the 17th and 18th centuries, Utopian tracts were distributed, as well as projects of political and social reforms.But since the mid-19th century, utopia becomes a specific genre of literature on the issue of moral values and social ideals.Many utopian works of the 20th century was written by HG Wells.
In the broadest sense, a utopia - it is some specific universal scheme, which, in the opinion of its supporters, will help resolve existing conflicts in society.It is characterized by: anti-historicism, tendency to formalism, detachment from reality, exaggerated the role of education and legislation, the hope for support of those in power.
As a contrast there dystopia, which calls for the abandonment of a social ideal and reconciliation with the existing systems in the country, in order to avoid the worst of the future.Dystopia is often reflected in the fact that depicts the social ideals of opponents (often in the form of a caricature).
social utopias of Plato - one of the first concepts of this kind.According to his theory, the state is a deliberate intensification, concentration, justice and beauty.In order to achieve this, people need to perform well-defined functions corresponding to the properties of their soul and natural abilities.
soul consists of three components - a strong-willed, intelligent and affective.Depending on the predominance of one or another part is the distribution of state functions.The strong-willed part of the soul prevails in the soldiers who protect the population from enemies.Reasonable part - philosophers who deal with government.Affective - the peasants and artisans engaged in industrial production and providing the state the necessary products.
social utopia, according to Plato, is based on the fact that as a result of consolidation for each class of virtues (the soldiers - the courage, the rulers - the wisdom, artisans and peasants - moderation) and because there is a rigid hierarchy in the state realized the highest virtue - Justiceleading to harmony.Thus, the interests of the individual being sacrificed for the common good.
Currently, the concept of utopia carries a number of positive points.In particular, it makes it possible to guess what will happen in the future, and also to avoid a number of negative social consequences of human activities.It not lost its importance and it is fantastic in many literary works.
