I doubt that a utopia as it is traditionally defined could ever exist. Conventional wisdom holds that utopia is an ideal state of accomplishment, but it is no secret that humanity thrives on change and growth. How can we have both at the same time? Either the human condition would have to change, or the conventional wisdom is wrong...or both.
Gray is right that we'll eventually make all those technological leaps, but that's really just the beginning of a much deeper destiny. Utopia is a place to talk about the culmination of civilization, and therein lies the warrant of its postulation. But are we talking about something that is ineffable to the human creatures of our day? Our premises and our perspective may be wholly inadequate. Nevertheless, it does no good to call the question unanswerable, because in the consideration of utopia we delve into the best course for the human future from this point, and therein our actions in the immediate world become so much clearer. This has always been my secret to success and peace of mind. Trying to depict utopia using modern paints may not yield a truly accurate representation, but it is a good start.
Were the potential of the universe fathomed, the civilization of its unlocking would be tantamount to a utopia. This denizens of this civilization would touch and, generally, would reach the substantial majority of their individual potential for knowledge and power and skill, in their lifetimes, to their satisfaction, whilst on the collective level would this be reflected in the civilization's approach toward complete universal realization.
I wish I could speak more specifically, but only through the broadest of brushstrokes can I even begin to wrap a frame around utopia, given how far away we are from it. But the two most general points, I believe, are inviolable:
- The civilization must trend toward unlocking the full potential of the universe, in terms of the knowledge of its workings and of its physical possibilities;
- The denizens must be able to realize their own potential of knowledge, power, and skill, unfettered, and must find satisfaction in the undertaking, which is to say, they must be happy with their lives.[/list:u]This would necessitate that the utopian civilization would evolve over time, forcing us to abandon the notion that utopia must adhere to an ideal, but ultimately static state of affairs. However, a snapshot taken with respect to any period of time inside the utopia would be described as ideal for its time...a utopia. Think of these snapshots each as a "utopia" in the more common sense of the word; think of the civilization over time as the integral of these snapshots; a more legitimate, dynamic utopia.
This characterization of utopia, as I have described it, satisfies the intrinsic sentient need for growth and change, while establishing an ideal state of affairs at any given point in time, and honoring the full potential of all denizens.
