
There are many debates about utopia
- What constitutes a utopia? Are utopias benign or dangerous? Is the idea of utopianism essential to Christianity or heretical? What is the relationship between utopia & ideology? This Very Short Introduction explores these issues & examines utopianism & its history Lyman Sargent discusses the role of utopianism in literature & in the development of colonies & in immigration The idea of utopia has become commonplace in social & political thought both negatively & positively Some thinkers see a trajectory from utopia to totalitarianism with violence an inevitable part of the mix Others see utopia directly connected to freedom & as a necessary element in the fight against totalitarianism In Christianity utopia is labelled as both heretical & as a fundamental part of Christian belief & such debates are also central to such fields as architecture town & city planning & sociology among many others Sargent introduces & summarizes the debates over the utopia in literature communal studies social & political theory & theology ABOUT THE SERIES The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly Our expert authors combine facts analysis perspective new ideas & enthusiasm to make interesting & challenging topics highly readable