The hottest Utopianism Substack posts right now

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Nueva Australia

Kvetch • 65 implied HN points • 14 Mar 26
đź’ľ History Utopianism
  1. After the violent defeat of the 1891 shearers’ strike, William Lane led 220 Australians to Paraguay to try to build a new white, socialist utopia called Nueva Australia.
  2. The community ran on strict communal rules—no alcohol, no private property, and racial separation—and those rules plus disagreements over labor and women caused bitter infighting and a split within months.
  3. The utopian project collapsed within a few years and Lane eventually returned home and turned conservative, while many descendants stayed in Paraguay, becoming Spanish- and GuaranĂ­-speaking cattle ranchers who adopted private landholding.

The future is built by small, weird groups

The Novelleist • 629 implied HN points • 18 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Utopianism
  1. Better futures are built by small, trust-rich groups that stay weird, focused, and intentional so their work can compound over time.
  2. Large algorithmic platforms reward virality, outrage, and simple narratives, which crushes nuance, slow thinking, and real creation and makes it feel like things can't get better.
  3. Instead of passive optimism or pessimism, join or create non-viral, small communities that prioritize curiosity, creation, and collective constraints so new, complex futures can be invented.

A meaning of life

Philosophy bear • 57 implied HN points • 10 Dec 25
đź“– Philosophy Utopianism
  1. Meaning isn’t just an abstract answer but a story you craft to present your values to yourself in an aesthetic and emotional way, so life feels purposeful and livable.
  2. The best human life mixes bliss, adventure, creativity, friendship, and deliberate struggle, and rich, responsive simulations (with real-seeming people) can help deliver those deeply felt experiences.
  3. We can and should work to reshape the world and ourselves toward an intelligently designed moral order—ending involuntary death and needless suffering, guiding evolution, and improving animal welfare—while preserving voluntary challenge and growth.

Will you explain anarchism to me?

The Novelleist • 781 implied HN points • 07 Nov 24
đź“– Philosophy Utopianism
  1. Anarchism is about creating a society without centralized power or authority. It acknowledges that people might still try to gain power, but the goal is to build a culture that resists such authority.
  2. There are questions about how to protect communities striving for anarchy while facing external threats. People are thinking about ways to create temporary spaces of freedom and coordinate efforts across different regions.
  3. For anarchism to flourish, there needs to be a shared global sentiment among people. It’s essential to imagine what an anarchist society could look like, as this vision can help guide the movement.

Am I an anarchist?

The Novelleist • 304 implied HN points • 22 Nov 24
đź“– Philosophy Utopianism
  1. Small communities can self-govern effectively, but larger groups may need some form of governance to ensure good behavior among members. This raises questions about whether a decentralized system still counts as anarchist.
  2. People want similar goals across different ideologies, like a more equitable and environmentally conscious society. The focus should be on improving our current systems rather than starting from scratch.
  3. Open borders could change the dynamics of power between countries. If people can easily leave bad governments, those governments might be less likely to wage war or act poorly to keep their citizens.
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The Post-Work AI Utopia We Are Racing Toward: A 7-Minute Video Intro

Crypto Good • 6 implied HN points • 11 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Utopianism
  1. People are reacting to AI in three main ways: some fear it will destroy us, some ignore it, and some expect a vague future of abundance.
  2. Rapid AI progress is driving us toward a world where machines do most or all work, but we currently lack a roadmap for governance, money, poverty, and human purpose in that world.
  3. Thoughtful fiction and distilled briefings can offer practical blueprints for how post-scarcity societies and superintelligent AIs might be governed, helping guide real-world policy and design.

Can Science Fiction Fill the Religious Void?

The Bigger Picture • 159 implied HN points • 03 Feb 22
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Utopianism
  1. Science fiction is a way for science to create its own mythos, filling the void left by religious narratives.
  2. Sci-fi concepts like metaverses and transhumanism relate back to ancient stories and traditions, offering a modern take on age-old themes.
  3. While sci-fi can provide imaginative and dreamlike spaces, it may not fully address the deeper sources of meaning that are essential for society.