Utopia is the model of an ideal state

There are two versions of the origin of the word utopia. This place, according to the first of them, which is not (u - no, topos - place, Greek.). And for the second - a blessed country (eu - good, topos - place). The term was first used in the title of the book by T. Mor. Later it became a household name, denoting various fictional countries with an ideal social system and unrealistic plans contained in the writings and treatises on various social transformations.

Utopia is an expression of the interests of certain social strata that are not, as a rule, in power. It performs important cognitive, educational and ideological functions. Often served as a form of expression of revolutionary ideology.

Also, utopia is a peculiar form of social consciousness aimed at comprehending the social ideal, attempts to anticipate the future, criticize the existing system. In the Renaissance, it was expressed in the description of perfect states, which seemed to exist somewhere or existed before. It spread in ancient and medieval China (works of Lao Tzu, Mo-tzu), as well as among the peoples of the Middle and Near East (Ibn Badja, Al-Farabi).

In the 17th and 18th centuries utopian treatises were disseminated, as well as projects of political and social reforms. And since the middle of the 19th century, utopia has become a specific genre of literature about the problem of moral values and social ideal. Many utopian works in the 20th century were written by H. Wells.

In the broadest sense, utopia is some kind of a certain universal scheme, which, according to its supporters, will help resolve existing contradictions in society. It is characterized by: anti-historicism, a propensity for formalism, separation from reality, an exaggerated role of upbringing and legislation, hope for the support of persons in power.

As an opposition, there is an anti-utopia that calls for a rejection of the social ideal and reconciliation with the existing system in the state, in order to avoid a worse future. Often the anti-utopia is expressed in that it depicts the social ideals of the opponents (often in a caricature form).

The social utopia of Plato is one of the first concepts of this kind. According to his theory, the state represents a conscious strengthening, concentration of justice and beauty. In order to achieve this, people must perform strictly defined functions, corresponding to the properties of their soul and natural abilities.

The soul includes three components - strong-willed, reasonable and affective. Depending on the predominance of those or other parts, the distribution of public functions takes place. The strong-willed part of the soul prevails among the soldiers who protect the population from enemies. A reasonable part is for philosophers who are involved in the management of the state. Affective - for the peasants and artisans involved in material production and providing the state with the necessary products.

Social utopia, according to Plato, is based on the fact that as a result of the consolidation of virtues among every class (warriors have the courage, rulers have wisdom, craftsmen and peasants have moderation), and thanks to the existing rigid hierarchy in the state, the highest virtue is realized-justice leading to To harmony. Thus, the interests of the individual are sacrificed in the name of the common good.

At present, the concept of utopia carries a number of positive points. In particular, it makes it possible to assume what will happen in the future, and also to avoid a number of negative social consequences of people's activities. It has not lost its meaning in many fantastic literary works.