Imagining Better Worlds For All : Opening Imageries and Poetics

Over the coming weeks I am hoping to put together  some short pieces about a better world.

I have for some time been concerned about the failures of the modern world and our endless critique of it.We need some sense of a positive future thinking.

Although I am no simple utopian, I do like the idea of ‘thinking forward’ –  of Dreaming of a Better Social World for All.

Something has gone terribly wrong with our current values of markets and money.

The following captures a little of  what I think. It was presented at my British Sociological Presidential Lecture at the British Museum in October 2011. 

I am against a world riddled with the values of the market place
I need Cosmopolitan Hope – a dreaming forward-
in a world of often unbearable darkness.

I need Wisdom – experience and science ands art-
in a world of chaotic complexity.

I need Empathy- my bridge to the others –
 in a world of monologic terrorism.

I need a Human Flourishing  – a potential developed for all-
in a world of wasted lives.

I need Social Justice for all- a fairness and freedom and equality-
in a world ruled without justice

I need Meliorism – those practical actions
which will make the world a better place.

Above all: recall the golden rule:
Treat others as you would be done by.

And Be kind. Be kind. Be kind.

 

Table: Dreaming of a Better Social World: In Defence of Social Values over Economic and Nationalistic Values  (in process)

	Feature of Society and People to be developed	Value	Literature	‘Enemies’ to question & challenge
	Hope; Melioration; Progress	Progress; cautious optimism	Science Fiction UtopianismPhilosophers	Despair, nihilism
	Role taking, empathy & dialogue	Sympathy	The Empathic Society; Dialogic ethics, Recognition theory,	Monologic Terrorism; lack of empathy; a certain blindness in human beings
	Altruism – concern with others	Compassion, kindness & care	Feminist Care TheoryThe Compassionate Temperament	CrueltyViolenceSelfishness
	Justice, Democracy and Social Rights	Fairness, Freedom, Equality	The Philosophies of Justice and Human Rights	Authoritarianism; Tyranny of others, Elitism, Scapegoating, Bullying….Slavery, the Unfree, Unjust. Unequal rights denied
	Human Flourishing	‘The Good Life’ & ‘The Virtues’	Human Capability Theory with Rights and Flourishing	Neglect, ExploitationDenial of opportunities,Incapacitation. Societies based on economic values centrally.
	Cosmopolitanism	Acceptance of differences	Cosmopolitan theory/ Difference theory	NarrownessEthnocentrism
	Humanitarianism	Societies based on caring for the others	The Humanitarian Society	Cruel, violent, genocidal societies
	Wisdom	Experience– both historical and personal;Science – both hard and soft;Imagination – both limited and unlimited	Confucius and all the ‘wise thinkers across cultures and throughout history	Folly , Stupidity (which is not the same as ignorance); Blind science, blind rationality.

 

Coming Tales

1. The Hopeful Society
2. The Empathic Society
3. The Kind, Compassionate Society
4. The Just and Rights Society
5. The Flourishing for all Society
6. The Wise Society
7. The Humanitarian Society