On Utopianism

“Man is not worried by real problems so much as by his imagined anxieties about real problems.” ~ Epictetus, Enchiridion
Throughout the annals of human history, intellectuals, philosophers, prophets, visionaries, and even anarchists have contemplated and advocated for divergent visions of an ideal future society. Plato's Republic, Thomas More's Utopia, the promise made to Abraham and his descendants in Genesis 12:1-3, the millennial reign of Christ mentioned in Revelations 20:3, Karl Marx's Worker's Paradise, and Hitler's 1000-year Reich are but a few examples. Some individuals aspire to reach a state of Nirvana, while others envision a heavenly kingdom with streets paved with gold.

Utopias are generally anticipated to materialize in the future and are thus deemed worthy of sacrificing the present for. Consider the Peoples Temple, Heaven's Gate, and other suicide cults that have tragically lost lives in the pursuit of their delusional future utopian dreams.

Humans dedicate their lives to creating an optimal way of life. Whether it involves designing the ideal government system, adhering to the teachings of a religious guru, or embracing complete chaos, people yearn for Utopia and are willing to devote their lives and even die for it, particularly if they believe their efforts will ensure the well-being of future generations.

We commend parents who work tirelessly to secure a stable future for their children. Therefore, logically, how much more commendable are those who dedicate their lives to benefiting future generations beyond the lives of their children or grandchildren?

Are you optimistic that the human race has an ultimate purpose and is evolving toward a higher destiny? If the answer to these questions is affirmative, then perhaps no sacrifice would be too great.

Approximately 201.3 million years ago until the Cretaceous–Paleogene mass extinction event approximately 66 million years ago, a group of terrestrial vertebrates commonly known as dinosaurs dominated the planet. This vast, diverse, global population thrived and evolved over millions of years. However, approximately 66 million years ago, it all came to an end. The non-avian giants of old were no more.

We recognize that mass extinction events have plagued our planet since the dawn of life. Contemporary science identifies five historical mass extinctions and ten less catastrophic events. The Holocene extinction, or sixth mass extinction, is currently underway. It is estimated that 8 million species and 1 million plant and animal species are currently at risk of extinction.

While the emergence of the first primates can be traced back approximately 65 million years ago, contemporary evidence suggests that modern Homo sapiens appeared around 190,000 B.C.E.

The lessons learned from millions of years of history would indicate that a secure future for Homo sapiens – utopian or otherwise – is unlikely.
"We cannot control the external events around us; we can control ourselves. It is not things that trouble us, but our judgments about things." – Epictetus, Enchiridion
Even if we somehow devise a method to populate the galaxy, ensuring the survival of our species despite natural catastrophes such as wayward asteroids, aging planets, and dying stars, there is no guarantee that our species will endure or remain unchanged throughout time. Evolution is unpredictable. Our bodies are composed of the recycled atoms and molecules of various previously living creatures that we would not recognize as being related to us. Our descendants will likely not remember us or our feelings, accomplishments, or sacrifices. They may recall us in the same way we remember dinosaurs and other long-extinct animals, as thought-provoking curiosities.

The past is unalterable, and the future exists solely in our imaginations. All we truly possess is the present, and while we waste time fretting and worrying about the future, we lose the only thing we actually have – this very moment, right now. If we seek to experience utopian bliss, then here and now is the time and place to do so. An achievable utopia is not found in a future state but in a present-oriented state of mind unperturbed by external factors beyond its control. Utopian peace resides in a mind that wisely measures its responses to all external stimuli to maintain a peaceful equanimity, free of fear and anxiety.

Our existence is finite, so future generations must care for themselves. Here and now is where we exist, where we have some degree of control, and where our thoughts should be focused.

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