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.

Exploring the Impact of Utopian Visions

One approach to studying this would involve three main components:

• Motivation: Testing whether exposure to utopian ideas—like technological abundance or moral progress—increases engagement with long-term causes, measured through actions like donations or participation in EA activities.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Mapping how different groups interpret utopian ideals, drawing from religious texts, art, and historical movements to identify potential pitfalls or opportunities.
• Practical Applications: Developing guidelines for advocates, based on which narratives resonate most and least with diverse audiences.

Methods could include surveys, experiments, and collaborations with scholars in anthropology or religious studies to ensure cultural nuance is considered.

Execution and Potential Impact

A step-by-step approach might include:

1. Reviewing existing research on utopias across disciplines to identify patterns or gaps.
2. Conducting surveys or experiments to test how different narratives affect behavior.
3. Interviewing EA communities to understand current perceptions of utopian thinking.

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.

Differentiation from Existing Work

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.