Utopia is basically a land where everything is perfect. As concept of perfect is quite various, I would like for you all to share with your idea of utopia - it's not easy thing to come up with it (because if it was someone would already come up with it ;p).

Now the concept of country isn't that bad so let's say that my Utopia will remain a country. My utopia would be a world where word like "Flu" or "fever" does not exist, since humans developed immunity to all sicknesses. So lot's of jobs are unnecesary. It's not a world of robots but world of enhanced nature - houses from enhanced wood that is as strong as steel and brings better thermo regulation than plaster.

A word where one fruit gives you enough nutrition for whole day. And people don't need to do anything, since the plants which were enhanced grow by themselves - despite the bad weather, despite bad ground, despite not being particularly taken care of. No gold is needed since there is enough wood, food and resources for everyone.

I guess I would insert some religion - no, even few ones - so my citizens wouldn't be completely bored.

A utopia, in my opinion, is a world where everyone has not only political equality, but also economic equality. However, with that, it would require no one wanting to gain more, which goes against human nature. As stated by the man who first wrote about this(the name escapes me. Hobbes? Probably not.), society would be entirely dependent on the kindness of others. Helping each other, living with the same privileges as others, and the same amount of money.

However, this world is impossible. The word Utopia means something along the lines of "nowhere." Once again, I forget exactly what....

'Utopia'... now that is something... it can mean so many things to so many people...

In a 'Utopian' society as you say, perfect. Can never be, at least for everyone all the time. 'Utopia' would require others to make it the 'Utopia' it is. The 'working class', slaves, or whatever they happen to be referred to as.

If you are thinking machines, you will still need mechanics.
If you are thinking Artificial Intelligence, well it can be tampered with, unforseen events could happen and who would fix it?

What would a peoples who have only known 'happieness' and 'contentness' do if something does happen? Centuries/Generations later? Utopia does little good for humanity, except maybe help purge the 'weak' in the end....

From the top of my head I can take too images of Utopia that do already exist and where already executed - people tried to create them but failed. I'm talking about communism and "the land of love", the Christian Utopia. Although both concepts are good, they did not feet people, it seems.

Well, as for my version - it would probably be the land where everyone could do whatever he wants (meaning any job or interest, not crimes) without thinking about how to earn money to buy bread. And of course, the freedom of moving around, so that every could live in the type of climate and weather they like.

One funny thing I think I read somewhere - called paradox notes

People : We need Utopia !
Utopia : Well, I don't need you.

^ Haha, true XD

What i think about this whole concept - utopia is impossible because human are way too human.

Utopia would be seemingly impossible unless everyone were just robots who did the same thing.

Humans are different, we are not perfect, and because we're not perfect we're not wholely good. We might htink we are 'good' but in truth we are not all light.

All of us have a little black, and even if we say we are 'good' that is not true.

Perfect would have to be hard, when we think of perfect, we all think of people who are fair, with no deformities-which could happen someday if we are able to modify our children and all that stuff and make them brainless.

Even if they all look the same, intelligence is another subject. It would be seemingly impossible for everyone to be on the same intelligence and have the same experience in life. Which would kind of creep me out..

^ come to think of it, there is a special genre in literature which discuss exactly what you are talking about. Two works of it that pop in my mind are "Us" by Evgeniy Zamyatin and "1984" by Jorge Orwell.

"1984", like most Orwells books, are really worth reading. I recommend.

A lot of my friends would have seconded that. I' for one, am yet to read it. Stupid lack of time >.>

The same shall be said about "Us" (except for the fact that I've read it). If it is translated to your language, try it.

The Giver isn't a bad book, though it could have been a little better.

Lem is a polish author of futuristic world where world utopia is really common - I don't know if his books were published outside but they have many interesting concepts.

Each concept failed. Like the world in which humans could manipulate time to correct the mistakes and wars.

^ Lem was very popular in Soviet Union including Russia. I have the full set of his books at home. Unfortunately, he is one more author who I haven't read. Yet.

I don't really think a Utopia is desirable, simply for the fact that people would lead static and boring lives regardless of what definition you hold. Most of them, I think, revolve around having the idea world where everyone can be happy and no one has to worry about any sort of major crises like we do now (the government turning from a crisis solver to a crisis manager, etc.) but I think that without struggling to solve these sorts of problems people would get bored. If a society becomes too decadent it becomes rather screwed up. At least that's what I think with my limited knowledge of such things.

Well, maybe utopia would be a world in which something new happens everyday - S.O.S brigade ? :D

^ Rabbit is right, for everyone seeks the totally different world. Some prefer being passive, some - being active. For some lying under the sun for the whole day is pleasure, for others - torture. At some point interests of people will become incompatible or even opposite, and that will be the end of utopia.

Seems the only way we can achieve utopia is by mind control.....

Ergo Proxy?

Never watched it - is that a plot ?

I remember there was monument in Civilization II called "The Entity" - people were mind controlled by it and were said that they were "happy" :D

Well, the city of brainwashed people is present there. I highly recommend watching it.

Never built it. Is it in the last part of the game? I mostly won before getting to the latest technologies.

I just got reminded of Matrix - Agent Smith said that the first matrix was "to sent the world to perfect world" but it failed..I don't remember why thought ;p

Because no one thought it was realistic and everyone rejected the programming, so they lost entire "crops".

Actually, if by utopia you meant nothing "bad", then the people would die off almost instantly. With nothing bad, there are no consequences, people could not choose between what is "good". Also, only things that are "bad" can make "good" things precious, so in utopia everything is the same, and is worth nothing. Therefore the people themselves have no choice to make, and either die or revert to minimal living functions.

A simulated utopia is another thing, and is highly unlikely but still possible, at least by definition.

^ Incorrect, people make choice basing on their preferences, that are born from their genotype and upbringing. If the two of this are present, every human will have what he likes and what he doesn't like as much. Meaning, they all will be making their choice.

I guess one way of utopia could be if people were immortal but they couldn't reproduce, just turn back to the age of child. Also normal wounds wouldn't mean death, because they could be resurrected so there is no point in starting wars..

Kolox, oh my, but there is pain... so much pain there could be... and immortality? Sooner or later, some people are going to crack.... looking for a way to end their own life or others.

For amusement... pleasure... even to pass the time...

^ I agree, people will eventually get bored.... It's not a way to get happiness.

I know I would get bored. I think immortality is a curse, living forever would make people restless.

I think there was a story where one of characters was cursed and made into immortal..... I don't remember the name and details...

In my opinion, having an inevitable death is a good thing. Because our lives are shortened, we find more beauty in everything that is around us, so everything is more precious and worth fighting for. That's why I say a utopia with immortality is just...not a good idea at all. But that's just me.