Seminar: (How) is a Better World Possible

We are all aware that we are living in a world of imperfection, and we frequently wonder whether a better world would indeed be possible. In fact, one of the oldest problems for political and social theory is how to create an ideal state. Yet this quest for utopia has always come at the price of dystopia. An ideal state for whom? Every utopia, it seems, is someone else’s dystopia. Even the most well-meaning ideas for creating a better society will have unintended consequences. This colloquium class will address some of these problems. We will survey key utopian ideas, dystopian fears, and discuss how to develop sustainable solutions for concrete political and social problems while anticipating possible unintended consequences.

Seminar Information:

Seminar Teaching History:

• Fielding Graduate University, Fall 2025 (Remote)