The Delusion of Progressive Uptopianism
Idealism built on human hubris
In contemporary discourse, the allure of a utopian future often captures the imagination of progressive and social justice movements. The idea of creating a perfect society, free from the inequities and troubles of today's world, can be appealing but often lacks connection to reality. Unsurprisingly, this pursuit, especially when infused with human hubris, carries substantial risks. The belief that humans can engineer an ideal society not only overlooks the complexities of human behavior and societal dynamics but also leads down a path fraught with unintended negative consequences. One need not look far to see the social ills exacerbated or fomented by progressive policies presently. It is time to move away from this damaging perspective.
Hubris and Progressive Utopianism
Human hubris in the context of utopianism manifests in overconfidence in our collective ability to design and implement a flawless society through deliberate planning and policies. It stems from a misguided faith in human rationality and technological prowess, underestimating the unpredictable and multifaceted nature of human existence. This arrogance leads to a dismissive attitude towards historical lessons, is grounded in a fundamental misunderstanding of human nature, and ignores the reality that there are limits to human knowledge and power.
Progressive utopianism typically envisions a world where perfect social justice, economic equality, and environmental sustainability are not only achievable but sustained indefinitely through deliberate human action. While these goals may be noble, the pathway to achieving them, if it were even possible, is mired in complexity. The progressive belief in a utopia often involves radical reshaping of societal structures, disrupting existing social fabrics and leading to resistance, social disintegration, waste, despair and even chaos.
The progressive vision is immature in its understanding of historical realities and human behavior on an individual, interpersonal and societal level (see link above). It ignores socio-cultural variability and generally fails to account for deep-rooted cultural differences and historical contexts while simultaneously ignoring those aspects of humanity that are fundamental and therefore shared. What may seem like a perfect solution in one context could be entirely inappropriate in another, leading to policies that are overbearing, culturally insensitive and counterproductive. Further, ignorance of reinforcement structures manifested in the unappreciated incentives created by progressive policies can stimulate the development of new problems.
Furthermore, progressive visions of utopia are often closely tied to technocratic governance. There is a tendency to believe that complex societal issues can be solved through technology and rational planning alone. This often leads to a technocratic approach where decisions are made by a few elites who are believed to have superior understanding and expertise, sidelining democratic processes, community voices and those of dissent.
Historical Examples of Utopian Failures and Modern Human Hubris
The 20th century provides clear examples of utopian experiments that have failed with devastating consequences. The Soviet Union's attempt to create a communist paradise resulted in widespread poverty, oppression, and loss of life. Mao Zedong’s Great Leap Forward aimed to rapidly transform China into a socialist utopia but instead led to one of the worst famines in human history.
More recently, attempts to create utopian societies through radical social engineering, like in certain autocratic regimes that suppress dissent in the name of social harmony, continue to demonstrate the dangers of this approach. One need not look hard to find current evidence of these widespread attempts at social control in the actions of powerful elites intended to regulate food production and consumption, impede mobility and travel, and limit free speech in the name of progress, social justice, and environmental good.
Furthermore, the response to COVID offers a clear example of the limits of human knowledge and control in the face of natural phenomenon. Despite our impressive technological advances and extensive knowledge in a wide range of scientific disciplines, we were unable to “solve” or eliminate the problem. This is not to imply that advances have not provided benefits but rather to highlight that they inevitably fall short of expectations and ideals. Most assessments of COVID interventions, such as lockdowns, mask mandates and travel restrictions, fail to support these policies as demonstrably effective and in many cases demonstrate instead their harm to both individuals and society.
A Call for Humility and Pragmatism
Contrary to the idealistic Hollywood-style narrative where human ingenuity solves all, it is best to adopt a more realistic assessment of human capacity and recognize the complexity of defining a happy ending. Rather than striving for an unattainable perfect state, a more pragmatic approach would acknowledge the dynamic nature of the human experience and focus on:
Incremental Progress: Emphasizing gradual changes that allow for assessment and adjustment, ensuring that policies are responsive to real-world outcomes rather than utopian ideals. This requires a willingness to collect data that allows for the evaluation of policies and their outcomes, free from ideological bias that seeks to confirm pre-existing beliefs. It further requires leaders and decision-makers who are capable of both understanding the conclusions of such research and willing to base decisions on evidence, not ideology.
Meritocratic Inclusiveness: Prioritizing processes that engage a broad base of stakeholders, thereby respecting diverse viewpoints in the decision-making process. This means that a range of voices, not just those deemed “historically underrepresented” will be heard and respected. It also entails a return to the meritocratic evaluation of ideas, where competence and past success are used to weight input, not merely identity.
Resilience and Flexibility: Building systems that are robust and adaptable, capable of evolving in response to changing needs and unforeseen challenges. This means an openness to change and willingness to challenge long-held assumptions. But it also means an openness to learning about and from the past. It requires a willingness to adjust course when necessary, respecting rather than vilifying those who update their beliefs and opinions.
Conclusion
The pursuit of a human-created utopia, driven by the hubris to believe we can craft a flawless society, is a delusional endeavor that overlooks the complexities of human nature and historical realities. While the desire to foster improvement is commendable, the progressive pursuit of a utopia must be tempered with an understanding of human limitations and both historical and modern complexities. By acknowledging these factors and adopting a more humble and pragmatic approach, we can avoid the pitfalls of hubris and work toward a future of progress, not just in theory but in our complex and messy reality. By focusing on incremental and meaningfully inclusive improvements, we can navigate toward the future more wisely, avoiding the collateral costs of utopian fantasies while still striving for betterment. This approach not only safeguards against the excesses of human arrogance but also fosters a more resilient and compassionate society.
Yes. As a philosopher, one of my sayings is, "A good philosopher must always have one foot in the real world."