Utopia awaits us all.

A utopian vision is needed for our day-to-day navigation. Otherwise we will continue to float adrift, subject to this wind or that, without destiny.

Webster's Dictionary defines 'utopia' as, "any visionary scheme or system for an ideally perfect social order; any place, state, or situation of ideal perfection."

Most think it is unattainable, and the very word, invented by Thomas More, is Greek for "land of nowhere." Today, most would define it as "never-never-land."

There have been many serious utopian proposals. Most are authoritarian, prohibit private property, and discourage individual variation. Plato's Republic (c. 375 B.C.) was to be led by a benevolent dictator. Thomas More's Utopia (l716) was an imaginary island with authoritarian economic and political systems and no private property. Marxism was another authoritarian scheme. Burrhus F. Skinner's Walden Two (1948) was a scientifically-shaped authoritarian scheme.

Living systems must seek harmony with the laws of nature and its inner workings. A utopium would be an expression of evolution, not a barrier to it.

The Nature of Nature

First and foremost any utopia must be in alignment with nature, so let us list some of the basic characteristics of nature.
Variation

Evolution gives first of variation. ALL flowers, snowflakes, and persons are different, no two are the same.
Variation insures there will be small groups different from the majority. There will always be the few who seek the extreme. There will always be those who are few in number. The few would be celebrated by the many as guides to what is possible.

Cycles

Evolution gives second of order. Even though there is great variation in the universe, there is also great order. History unfolds in cycles: this era, that age Nature's events occur in cycles: the seasons, the stock market, even TV signals and brain waves.

Independence

Living Systems exist as independent Systems. To be sure, they depend upon one another, but one system need not cease to function because of the demise of another.

If living Systems were totally dependent on one another, evolution would be nothing but a chain reaction. Life would have ended long ago when one system failed and all others followed.

Within a living system independence exists at all levels. A living system consists of independent and dependent systems functioning as a whole.

Independence is the result of the natural randomness of evolutionary processes. Not every squiggle of the present writer's pen depends upon, or is caused by, the position of the planets.

Multiple Causality

Unlike purely physical processes, when it comes to living systems the same result can come about through different means. Human personality is likely determined by many forces: genetics, social environment, physical environment, childhood experiences random events, etc.

Survival of the Flexible-est.

The fittest is the most adaptable. Evolution rejects rigid systems and stasis.

Nature is Neutral

Nature gives us disease and earthquakes along with beautiful days and great ideas. Nevertheless there persists the dysbelief that something is good just because it arises from nature, e.g.. "all natural." There also persists the corollary dysbelief that something is bad if it is made of chemicals. that synthetic processes are intrinsically harmful. The fact is. nature is chemical in nature. We and our food are chemicals.

Another example of this fallacy is the 'free market’ idea that natural economics, unfettered by interventionist government will succeed best. While it is true that some free market activity is not dysfunctional, government intervention grew out dysfunctional free-market business behavior.

Supportive Hierarchy

Nearly all living systems exhibit hierarchy. Hierarchies are not in and of themselves dysfunctional, but they are vulnerable to dysfunction—ASCOs for example. Their danger lies in the overextension and overuse of hierarchical organization. Theater productions are good examples of healthy hierarchy.

A basic question arises, "Monkey monarchy or dolphin democracy?" Life by force or agreement? Utopian hierarchies are supportive hierarchies in synergetic agreement.

Utopian economic and political systems should be free of the rigidity of compulsive political authoritarianism, communism, fundamentalism, and the like.