Introduction

What would make a great society? The idea itself, upon further examination, forces so many considerations that the question is ultimately futile. There is no chance of a utopia. Anyone with a basic understanding of human behavior understands there will always be a segment of the population who will never cooperate, who will always compete with disregard, or will act antithetical to any notion of basic humanity. Simultaneously, creative destruction, while chaotic and deadly, does indeed lead to improvements for the world. Therein lies the dilemma. How can we create a great society without sacrificing concepts and ideals that would make the world equitable, free, responsible, and safe. One clue is to look at ecosystems in nature. But, understanding the mechanics of a harmonious system highlights the fundamental need for death and destruction. Carnivores eat herbivores who in turn eat plants, insects, etc. A healthy system doesn’t necessarily mean it is a safe system. Yet, we can look back on humanity and look at how we are able to craft our own destiny. The tools are available to us to create a society that might just get us close enough to a version of utopia. Perfection is unattainable, but we can create a self-regulating system that mimics a harmonious ecosystem, without the need for pain, suffering, and death. In this series, I will explore what it would take to create this great society. I will not commit to the reasoning of “don’t even bother to try” because I am, despite my cynicism of humanity, an optimist at heart. In order for us to achieve a goal, we must realize it somehow. Ultimately, building a society is about values, justice, and power. What is valued? Who gets to decide what is valued? What happens when values are put into question? How is justice administered? Then: What mechanisms could we create that fosters growth and innovation without pulling precious resources from our planet? How can we get there? What will it look like?

In writing an initial draft of this series, I came into conflict with so many problems that has plagued so many policymakers, theologians, philosophers, and casual thinkers before. I did often question whether trying to design a great society was indeed a futile effort. The moment I thought I reconciled something, I had to factor in another aspect of humanity that ran at-odds with what I had concluded. Also, I became aware that I was writing from a particular point-of-view. My opinions, thoughts, and experiences informed what I deemed valuable, but tried to adhere to universal themes we might all agree on. So as I present this series, be open-minded and practice patience. Still, I might be blind to a factor I hadn’t considered, not because I dismiss the concept, but I am simply ignorant to its existence and/or the importance of its existence. With that said, if you would like to place a comment and provide a correction, insight, or comment, please do so.