Is A Utopian Society Ethical or Not? – Philosophy Essay

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Is A Utopian Society Ethical or Not? – Philosophy Essay
The world of the 21st century is the best of times because of the continuous freedom and morality, many people may say. That is why the idea of a Utopia is considered so irrational. People think that a Utopia

would have to be like a prison to maintain its perfection. But I think that it’s the freedom that is driving our very “politically correct” world totally insane. How much more ethical is our free spirited world from a Utopia? Release, safety, and unity are all controversial aspects of the Utopia in the novel The Giver by Lois Lowry, but from the side I see them, they are much better then the reality that we are faced with now.
When I thought about the flaws of the Utopia in The Giver, I thought the biggest flaw was the releasing of people when they committed a crime, or they were too old to stay in the community. In a real world, yes it would be wrong to kill people just because of their age level. But think, this is a Utopia; people aren’t even so attached to each other because they don’t really love each other. Besides, what is the difference between the American death sentence and killing off criminals in the Utopia? There is only one: criminals are much more seldom and much less violent in a Utopia then in our untamed world. Think about it: because our surroundings today is so incredibly “moral” and “forgiving” the population has grown beyond our control. Starvation, poverty, WAR. Face it; we are all dying of the car fumes we inhale, that we ourselves produce in the first place. We are also sending innocent animals right along with us to our wretched pathway to doom. We are killing OURSELVES with our own stupidity and ignorance anyway! A serene Utopia doesn’t seem so ludicrous now, does it?

Enfant death rates are steadily climbing as time wanders, and everyone is wondering how to possibly stop it. Cancer is on the rise, and unpredictable viruses are lurking among us. Our time is exceedingly dangerous; you can never trust what kind of drivers the road brings, and guns are supposedly used for protection, doing more harm then good. Because a Utopia has such a solid system of justice, control, and medical care; death is an unthinkable seldom. “Loss of a child was very, very rare. The community was extraordinarily safe, each citizen watchful and protective of all children.” (Lowry, pg. 44). This part of the book clearly describes how caring everyone is of each other, and the incredibly low death rates. There are no cars, and everyone is comfortable with an alcohol and drug free life too. Some may say that this sense of security is actually imprisonment from free will. Really, I think that being safer brings more freedom, because one doesn’t have to constantly watch their back, wondering what stranger might be creeping around. Admit it, a Utopia is much more cleverly thought out then anything in our universe.

In a Utopia, the community has amazing unity. Since there is no money, there is no giant division of the “east” and “west side” of town, and everyone literally has a place. Many people may say that it’s highly possible not to fit into the community; therefore there wouldn’t be so much union. Well I think that because everyone has the same beliefs and was raised in the same way, they are bound to prefer and respect the same things. Who said that the community disliked people that didn’t fit in? Sometimes being unique was even rewarded in the community. Like Jonas; he unlike others was different, and he had the capacity to see beyond. He was assigned the most important task within the community: the Receiver of Memory. Speaking of importance, no one is neglected in the utopian community; that’s what literally having a place means. No one has to feel or remember feeling hunger, thirst or what its like to be abandoned. The only way each one of us is a part of our society is financially, as in welfare. Sure, if someone runs for prime minister or turns out to be a rock star, then the society would recognise them. Everyone else is left behind. Pathetic; is my word for it. Utopians are at an advantage knowing that they each belong to the cozy commune. Having a place in a region makes us feel as though the world isn’t so gigantic and strange after all.

Now, I hope that you don’t think that unity and thoroughness equal captivity in a Utopia. I pity you if you are still one of those naïve people that are pleased with the justice of our world today. If gasping for air in midst of the fumes, or lying half death on the road from some lousy ignorant driver is what it takes to make you realize that our world has absolutely no morality, then so be it. All you’ll have left is that vague dream of living in a peaceful tranquil land, called a Utopia.

Lowry, Lois. The Giver. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc, 1993.

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