Utopia, Dystopia, or Something Else - What Does The Future Hold?

The subject of what will the future be like has long been a fertile ground for speculation, especially in literature. For as far back as recorded history goes, most religions have seen either a utopian future (sometimes preceded by an apocalyptic triumph over evil), or a cyclical pattern that just repeats itself.

In modern times, on the Dystopian end of the spectrum, two famous examples are George Orwell’s 1984 and Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World”. However, each one has a different version of it. Orwell foresaw a classic totalitarian state, where information and independent thinking are banned. Huxley foresaw a tyranny of pleasure, where people were controlled through endless diversions.

A more Utopian future can be seen in Karl Marx, who foresaw a post-capitalist future where humanity lived in a state with no material or social inequality. Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek and Star Trek: The Next Generation also saw a future where humanity (while still being somewhat imperfect) is shown to have overcome war and material want, and be united in an egalitarian mission of exploring the galaxy in the spirit of peace.

Do we see things heading in any particular direction at the moment? Do any of these visions offer any insight? Might the future turn out, in fact, to be a combination of two or more of these visions? Join us for another lively discussion!

Brent Hardaway is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Brent Hardaway's Zoom Meeting
Time: May 15, 2021 03:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

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