The theme for the 2012 American Sociological Association annual conference was Real Utopias. Thomas Moore coined the term utopia in the early 16th century as a pun on two Greek roots ”no place and good place. A utopia is a fantasy world of perfect harmony, peace and justice. The notion of a real utopia embraces the tension between the dream and actual implementation. Utopia implies visions of alternatives that embody our deepest aspirations for a world in which all people have access to the conditions necessary to live flourishing lives. Real implies making concrete. That is, creating ideals that are grounded in practical solutions that can be implemented in order to transform dreams or visions into realities.
For the purposes of this discussion please respond to the following questions:
- In regard to diversity, what does your utopia look like? Respect and equality for all
- What role does social justice play in your utopia? By ending Institutional Racism, Fears, discrimination’s of all kinds
- What real changes will need to be made in order to transform your utopia into a reality? Social and Justice reform…People really looking into their own heart
- What information from this course will you apply in your life to make your utopia real?