The Colin McEnroe Show Building utopia
May 27, 2025
Akash Kapur, author of 'Better to Have Gone,' shares insights into Auroville's quest for utopia and the philosophical ties between love and death in intentional communities. Avery Trufelman, host of 'Nice Try!', discusses the interplay of idealism and reality in modern utopian efforts, from innovative projects like Biosphere 2 to the challenges faced by communities. They delve into the complexities of these societies, exploring the allure and learnings from both successful and failed utopian experiments throughout history.
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Utopia Means 'No Place'
- The word 'utopia' means 'no place' and symbolizes an unattainable ideal.
- Utopias serve more as critiques of current society and imaginations of alternatives than as achievable realities.
Utopia as Quest for Control
- Utopian efforts often stem from a quest for control and hope for an alternative way of life.
- They arise as reactions to dissatisfaction with current society and its threats, such as ecological concerns.
Oneida’s Radical to Conventional Shift
- Oneida started as a radical intentional community practicing polyamory and gender equality.
- By mid-20th century, it transitioned into a profitable silverware company catering to conventional families.
