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Philosophy

The Political Philosophy of Utopianism and the Ideal Society

Quick fact

The word 'utopia' was coined by Thomas More in 1516 as a pun on two Greek words: 'outopia' (no place) and 'eutopia' (good place). This double meaning captures the central paradox of utopianism: a place that is perfect and therefore impossible to or undesirable to realize.

Why this is interesting

Would you want to live in a perfect society? If so, who is the 'you' who decides what 'perfect' means? The pursuit of the ideal society is both the most noble and the most dangerous of political ambitions.