I suppose what you need to know is that I teach a critical thinking seminar for first year college students, and also that I am somewhat optimistic about the potential for a better tomorrow.
The word "utopia" has become commonly associated with perfection; it would be a stretch to say I believe tomorrow can actually be perfect in every way.
The word, coined by Sir Thomas More for the title of his 1516 book (the full title is "A fruteful and pleasaunt Worke of the beste state of a publyque weale, and of the newe yle called Utopia; written in Latine by Syr Thomas More knyght, and translated into Englyshe by Raphe Robynson"), is derived from the Greek words for "not" and "a place." It is a play on "eutopia" - only one letter different - which would mean "happy place". In brief, Thomas More may have been suggesting with this pun that there is no perfect happy place at all, that a perfect society is not possible (though note that this is still debated by scholars, and there is room for you to read his Utopia, consider the available information, and form your own opinion about what More intended.)
Critical thinking is, at least most of the time, antagonistic of unfounded optimism. A good critical thinker actively analyses ideas he or she encounters, and rejects or neglects those that are fallaceous. When I accept on faith that tomorrow could be better than today, I am a poor critical thinker.
Posts here will be brief, and include links to news about potential trends. Some will suggest a better tomorrow. Some will not. A typical post will include a news item, a comment, and a question for your consideration. Thanks for your interest. See you in the future.
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