The abandonment of utopia and the affirmation of dystopia: Paradise Lost in modern philosophical discourse

Abstract

The meaning of ‘utopia’ as it has developed within the Western tradition is polysemic; for example, it has been understood as a synonym for perfection or as a goal, a kind of Paradise to which one might aspire. This theme has been explored throughout the history of Western philosophy right up to 20th-century interpretations, with the philosophical-political dimension generally being what distinguishes this connotation. In the 20th century itself, the postmodern movement debated meta-narratives, interpreting them as unachievable, having failed in their quest for ‘perfection’. In certain cases, postmodern criticism descended into nihilism and the affirmation of dystopia; Paradise had been lost. This contrasts with Marxism in Mexico, which over the last three decades has debated whether Marx’s contributions are utopian. Why is Marxism associated with utopianism? Should utopia be consigned to oblivion, like the lost Paradise of Modernity? Thus, regardless of Marxism, the subject cannot have a single meaning; consequently, its analysis remains relevant for reflecting on other alternatives for social structures, for example, considering in this sense that they remain a potential possibility. This discussion is the subject of the present paper.