Utopias

A Brief History from Ancient Writings to Virtual Communities

By: Howard P. Segal

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Paperback | 21 May 2012 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Paperback
304 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
21.5 x 13.8 x 1.8

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Utopias offers a discussion of the qualities of utopian schemes; it traces the varying forms that utopias have taken, from ancient Greece through to the Renaissance and on into modernity and the present, including contemporary "high-tech" utopias and  virtual utopian communities. <ul type="disc"> <li>A comprehensive history of utopias and utopianism </li> <li>Explores the purpose of utopias, what they reveal about their societies, and how utopias have changed over the centuries</li> <li>Unique in including both non-Western and Western visions of utopia</li> <li>Offers an analysis of high-tech and cyberspace visions for the first time</li> <li>The first book to analyze the implicitly utopian dimensions of reform crusades like Technocracy of the 1930's and Modernization Theory of the 1950's, and laptop classroom initiatives of recent years</li> </ul>

Industry Reviews

"Segal does not shy away from bold definitions and delineations to separate utopias from millenarianism and science fiction, from abstract utopias and daydreams. ...Utopias is an accessible and thought-provoking introduction to utopias and utopianism and will appeal to scholars, students, and the general reader alike." (Utopian Studies, 1 October 2015)

"In the capable hands of Howard P. Segal, professor of history at the University of Maine, technology rightfully has an important role in the imagination of alternative societies. His concise, well-written book covers utopias ancient and modern, Western and non-Western, and it is not limited to fiction conventionally labeled utopian but includes world’s fairs, social science, digital media, prophecies, millennial movements, and science fiction." (Technology and Culture, 1 October 2015)

“To conclude: Segal’s book on utopias is a well-made treatise on an important aspect of European and American history. He convincingly shows that utopias had a political, as well as an economic, relevance. The view on the interaction between different cultural systems, such as art, politics, religion, technology, and economics, is a great strength of the book. It shows how complex processes around utopian visions have been, and how relevant they are for the implementation and change of different cultural spheres.” (Religion, 30 May 2015)

“Segal does a good job of surveying the history of utopias, particularly focusing on the connections with science and technology. Histories of this topic tend to highlight the religious or cultural motivations for writing about or creating utopian societies, but here the author expands the discussion to include virtual communities … This text provides a unique approach for teaching history and the history of science. Highly recommended: general readers; lower-division undergraduates and above.” Choice (1 February 2013)

“Segal brings considerable scholarship and experience to bear, particularly on the historical intersections between technology and utopia ... [He] covers several continents and many centuries, addressing key texts and thinkers ... [and] supplies impressive coverage and thoughtful interpretations.” Times Higher Education (12 July 2012)

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