Rex Trulove
Many people think that it would be great to live in a utopia. People commonly think of the word as being defined as a perfect place or an ideal state. Perhaps you’ve even thought the same thing. However, that is definitely not what utopia originally meant and the meaning could come as a surprise.
‘Utopia’ is a Greek word. Regardless of how it is used today, the literal translation of utopia is “not a place”. In other words, a utopia is a place that doesn’t exist.
Considering how many troubles and problems this world has, it isn’t much of a stretch to figure that someone at some point figured that a paradise or ideal state didn’t and couldn’t exist. I believe otherwise, but it is still understandable how someone might have linked paradise with ‘not a place’.
Back to the original question. A person who wishes they lived in a utopia is actually wishing that they didn’t exist since a utopia is not a place. That is an interesting thought, is it not?
Yes at first I thought sure, then when I read your post not so sure now. Thanks for the knowledge Rex.
This is one of those that can confuse a lot of people. Most people here ‘utopia’ and think paradise.