utopia

utopia

Word derived from two ancient Greek words: οὐ– [not] and τόπος [place, landscape], with the suffix –ία that is typical of toponyms.

Concept: a nowhere place; a no-place; a place that doesn’t exist; an ideal (unreachable) place in which human society natural conditions, etc. are so positive, where life is so good that individual satisfaction is fully possible; a place where discontentement is virtually impossible.

The word was invented by Thomas More (1478-1535) for his book Utopia (1516) – full latin title: Libellus vere aureus, nec minus salutaris quam festivus, de optimo rei publicae statu deque nova insula Utopia [A truly golden little book, no less beneficial than entertaining, of the best state of a republic, and of the new island Utopia (literal); A fruitful and pleasant work of the best state of a public weal, and of the new isle called Utopia (traditional)] – describing a fictional island in the Atlantic Ocean, where a perfected society could be found. In English, utopia is pronounced exactly as eutopia and More himself published and addendum to his book: Wherfore not Utopie, but rather rightely my name is Eutopie, a place of felicitie.

eutopia

Word derived from two ancient Greek words: εὖ– [good-, well-] and τόπος [place, landscape], with the suffix –ία that is typical of toponyms — Εὐτοπία.

Concept: a good place; a place in which human society natural conditions, etc. are so good, so positive and perfect that complete contentement is virtually possible.

FIGURING A GOOD FUTURE

YAHRE 2000