Word: utopianism
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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Riesman argues that the emphasis in a "post-industrial, over-developed society" has shifted from production (work) to consumption (leisure). Because such a shift has occurred, utopian ideas and long range social goals must be reconsidered. Preoccupation with winning the cold war or beating the Russians to the moon provides no answer; nor can purpose be found in building more superhighways--these threaten to cut us to pieces. The threat of chaos necessitates conscious planning for the kind of society we want...
...Includes Utopian Ideas...
Abundance for What? puts forth some utopian ideas for reorganizing work and leisure patterns in America. The book encourages more though about a utopia. Riesman thinks that work for most of the world is clear cut: industrialization. For Americans, the notion of work is more complicated. Now that we've got the factories, what next...
...this sociologist, is to make leisure more meaningful for the increasing number of people with time on their hands. To do this we "need changes in the whole society: in its work, its political forms and its cultural styles." Such talk is no less revolutionary than what Goodman wants--utopian reforms. Here Riesman's thinking encounters difficulties. Any scheme for utopia requires a comprehensive view of man; otherwise large-scale social reform has no coherence or legitimacy. But, unlike the 18th century ideologues, Riesman has no driving metaphysic; his approach is "one of seeing rather than doing." To a pragmatist...
...What is surprising is that violent disorders have not occurred more often in Panama. As a former Canal Zone resident, the pseudo patriotism of Canal Co. employees is still vivid in my mind. Their special American citizen "status" and Utopian living standards make our standard of living in the U.S. seem miserly...