Despite its dismal record, the utopian impulse is by no means extinct. An eminent physicist looks at several of the guises in which utopian thinking is likely to appear during the century ahead -- and at the perils that lurk behind each one

by Steven Weinberg

1. Do you agree with the author’s opinion about Vershinin’s quote?

The Free Market Utopia

2. What is the “politics of envy”?
3. How is the free market limited with regards to civilization? Do you agree?

The Best-and-Brightest Utopia

4. What is the problem with leaving decisions up to the best and brightest? What do you think about this type of utopia?
5. What is the author’s perspective on power?

The Religious Utopia

6. What is the author’s opinion of religion?

The Green Utopia

7. Where does the word Utopia originate?
8. What comes forth in the analysis of king versus peasant?

The Technological Utopia

9. What is the importance of work in modern technological society?
10. What are the negative elements of the technological society?

The Civilized Egalitarian Capitalist Utopia

11. Examine and comment on the author’s vision of Utopia.
12. What is your utopia?