The Big Picture...
Students within each of 10 Distinct Conferences will complete pieces of the large overall puzzle. In the end, we hope to have a new Utopian Construct for Canada in the year 2025.

 

“In order to gain a clear and just idea of the design and end of government, let us suppose a small number of persons settled in some sequestered part of the earth, unconnected with the rest, they will then represent the first peopling of any country, or of the world. In this state of natural liberty, society will be their first thought” . Thomas Paine (1737-1809)

Often a glance backwards will help to guide a VISION forward. Humans throughout History have advanced the Human Condition from both Large Picture and Small Picture perspectives. Small Picture could include: advances in medicine : technology ; Music; and Art. Large Picture Perspectives could include: transformations in Government; and or Society Structures. This brief exploration of UTOPIAN CONSTUCTS will focus on the Large Picture Perspectives .

DEFINITION
UTOPIA was a term coined by Sir Thomas More in the early 16th century. Derived from two Greek words: Eutopia (meaning 'good place') and Outopia (meaning 'no place'). Utopia has been utilized to illustrate 2 solitudes , the ultimate in human folly or human hope.

POSITIVE
Utopia as a message of hope is represented by a number of authors :

• the epic of “ Gilgamesh “-- the ancient Sumerian legend …as early as 3000 B.C
• Plato´s “Republic “ was the model for many subsequent authors.

http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/republic.1.introduction.html Plato counterpoints the “Republic” with the “The Laws”. Here he sketches the basic political structure and laws of an ideal city named Magnesia.
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/plato-utopia/laws

NEGATIVE

• A Negative Utopian focus can be discovered within :
  Orwell's “Nineteen Eighty-four”
• Huxley's ironically titled” Brave New World”
• “The Iron Heel” (1907)by Jack London
• “The Handmaid's Tale”., by Margaret Atwood.
  

INTERESTING
The concept of Atlantis has been a construct that has been incorporated into numerous works of fiction. The New Atlantis by Francis Bacon, 1626 provides and an interesting perspective. http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl302/texts/bacon/atlantis.html
I would recommend a perusal of the Walden Community. It is a community that suggests an alternative to the dominant model of society. http://perso.wanadoo.es/waldencm/w2en.htm
A mindset shift would have you consider the economic foundations to a Utopian Society at http://econ161.berkeley.edu/TCEH/Slouch_intro1.html

A FEW EXCELLENT REFERENCE SITES
http://users.erols.com/jonwill/utopialist.htm
Provides a collection of links to other sites
http://users.erols.com/jonwill/
A perspective on Philosophy as a foundation to Utopia
http://www.deepleafproductions.com/utopialibrary/
An on- line Library…. a collection of texts and interviews exploring possibilities and boundaries of social evolution.

Current State of Affairs

UTOPIA was a term coined by Sir Thomas More in the early 16th century. Derived from two Greek words: Eutopia (meaning 'good place') and Outopia (meaning 'no place'). Utopia has been utilized to illustrate 2 solitudes , the ultimate in human folly or human hope.

POSITIVE
Utopia as a message of hope is represented by a number of authors :

• the epic of “ Gilgamesh “-- the ancient Sumerian legend …as early as 3000 B.C
• Plato´s “Republic “ was the model for many subsequent authors. http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/republic.1.introduction.html
• Plato counterpoints the “Republic” with the “The Laws”. Here he sketches the basic political structure and laws of an ideal city named Magnesia. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/plato-utopia/laws

NEGATIVE
A Negative Utopian focus can be discovered within :

• Orwell's “Nineteen Eighty-four”
• Huxley's ironically titled” Brave New World”
• “The Iron Heel” (1907)by Jack London
• “The Handmaid's Tale”, by Margaret Atwood.
  

INTERESTING
The concept of Atlantis has been a construct that has been incorporated into numerous works of fiction. The New Atlantis by Francis Bacon, 1626 provides and an interesting perspective. http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl302/texts/bacon/atlantis.html
I would recommend a perusal of the Walden Community. It is a community that suggests an alternative to the dominant model of society. http://perso.wanadoo.es/waldencm/w2en.htm
A mindset shift would have you consider the economic foundations to a Utopian Society at http://econ161.berkeley.edu/TCEH/Slouch_intro1.html

Blasts from the Past

“In order to gain a clear and just idea of the design and end of government, let us suppose a small number of persons settled in some sequestered part of the earth, unconnected with the rest, they will then represent the first peopling of any country, or of the world. In this state of natural liberty, society will be their first thought” . Thomas Paine (1737-1809)

Often a glance backwards will help to guide a VISION forward. Humans throughout History have advanced the Human Condition from both large picture and small picture perspectives. Small Picture could include: advances in medicine : technology ; music; and art (see 10 NEXUS conferences). This look at Utopia, focuses on the large picture.

 

 

 

Future World

Many thinkers have envisioned utopian societies.
The large picture is ...

It's time to get to work on our specific NEXUS conferences.

 

Overview

1. Start by reading about the past, present and future by following the above links to Blasts from the Past, Current State of Affairs, and Future World.
   
   
2. You can then explore
   External Links for Utopian Societies
   
   http://users.erols.com/jonwill/utopialist.htm
   Provides a collection of links to other sites
   http://users.erols.com/jonwill/
   A perspective on Philosophy as a foundation to Utopia
   http://www.deepleafproductions.com/utopialibrary/
   An on- line Library…. a collection of texts and interviews exploring possibilities and boundaries of social evolution.
   
   
3. Finally, consider Utopian Societies as you work within your specific conference. Refine your ideas and clarify your perceptions via discussions with your peers. You can access and participate in discussions via the NEXUS.eBoard.com conference site (student password = nexus).

* At NEXUS, you and your peers will further refine and publish your ideas.