Philosophy For Our Times Utopia and human nature | Paul Bloom
Jul 15, 2025
Join psychologist Paul Bloom, a renowned expert on morality and human behavior, as he delves into the elusive nature of utopia. He argues that human nature, with its inherent desires for status and complexity of morality, makes perfect societies unattainable. Bloom explores the paradox of striving for equality while battling our darker instincts and the happiness treadmill. With insights from history and real-life examples, he challenges listeners to reconsider the viability of utopian ideals amid the realities of human relationships.
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Human Nature Resists Equality
- Human evolution drives us to seek relative advantage, not absolute equality.
- We inherently value positional goods that signify our status over absolute gains.
Innate In-Group Biases
- Humans are innately biased to favor family, friends, and in-groups over strangers.
- These parochial instincts resist universal equality and community harmony.
Happiness and Striving Conflict
- Happiness evolved as a sign of success but natural selection favors continual striving.
- This creates boredom and a happiness treadmill undermining a perfectly happy utopia.
