ABSTRACT
I shall be arguing, in this part of the book, in favour of a new approach to utopianism; ‘new’, that is, in contrast to some of the dominant (historical) approaches which have contributed to the erection of the myth of utopianism. This myth, the ‘false’ or inappropriate view of the phenomenon, is present in many definitions and outlines of the colloquial usages of the terms ‘utopia’ and ‘utopianism’. Perusal of the reference section of any library tells us that ‘utopia’ means something along the following lines:
1. An imaginary island, depicted by Sir Thomas More as enjoying a perfect social, legal and political system…. 2. Any imaginary, indefinitely remote region, country or locality. 3. A place, state, or condition ideally perfect in respect of politics, laws, customs and conditions…. 4. An impossibly ideal scheme, esp. for social improvement.
