Utopianism for a Dying Planet

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In the face of Earth's environmental crisis, it is evident that technological innovation alone cannot save our planet; a more radical approach is necessary, involving significant changes in both individual and collective behavior. This exploration of the utopian tradition highlights how its expansive history—from ancient Sparta to contemporary thinkers—can provide moral and imaginative guidance amid catastrophe. Utopianism, critical of excessive consumption and luxury, may illuminate a path toward a society that prioritizes equality, sociability, and sustainability. The author presents a realist definition of utopia, emphasizing sociability and belonging as central themes. By examining the evolution of these ideas from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to modern debates surrounding alternatives to consumerism, the author argues that the current global warming limit of 1.5°C will lead to disaster without further reductions. In response, a radical Green New Deal program is proposed, merging sociability theories with strategies to eliminate fossil fuel dependence and unsustainable commodities. This urgent call for a revival of utopian ideas advocates for their role not as an escape from reality but as a powerful means to enact change and combat our planet's destruction.