The concept of utopia—an idealized vision of society—has shaped literature, philosophy, and political thought for centuries. Yet, there’s little empirical research on how these visions influence real-world behavior, especially in movements focused on long-term thinking like effective altruism (EA). Key questions remain unanswered: Do utopian narratives motivate action, or do they distract from immediate priorities? How do cultural differences shape perceptions of these ideas? Could certain framings make advocacy more effective? Addressing these gaps could help EA and similar movements refine their messaging to inspire action without coming across as naive or unrealistic.
One approach to studying this would involve three main components:
Methods could include surveys, experiments, and collaborations with scholars in anthropology or religious studies to ensure cultural nuance is considered.
A step-by-step approach might include:
A minimal viable product could start with surveying EA members to gauge reactions to different framings, such as whether descriptions of a thriving future inspire more donations than pragmatic appeals.
While some academic work, like The Utopia Reader, compiles historical utopian texts, this project would focus on actionable insights for modern advocacy. Unlike theoretical critiques (e.g., Erik Olin Wright’s Marxist analysis), it would use empirical methods to identify what actually motivates people. It also builds on informal EA discussions by providing structured, cross-cultural data.
By grounding utopian thinking in evidence, this could help movements communicate more effectively—inspiring action without alienating skeptics or overlooking cultural nuances.
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