Aeonis

[gL.edu] This article gathers contributions by Samuela Kereku, developed within the context of the Conceptual clarifications about "Utopias and the Information Society", under the supervisión of J.M. Díaz Nafría.

Introduction

The Cyberutopia carefully presented in this paper is called Aeonis, a world that shines as a beacon of hope and progress, where a community thrives by blending innovation with values. Here personal freedoms and communal well-being coexist harmoniously side by side. Atara is a young girl that was chosen to live in Aeonis and to experience all the tales that were spoken about but never proven. This short story concludes the description of this Utopia from the words of Liu, a resident of Aeonis and the companion of Atara. He will be her guidance for some time, since everything is different in the “new” city and some rules are very important.

Aeonis is a place surrounded by water and very difficult to reach, a small city where people from all races live happily and experience the last glimpse of peace on earth. The year is 2500 and not a lot from the earth as we know it still exists. While everyone else on earth is focused on wealth and power, Aeonis and it’s people thrive in happiness and harmony. The ways to get to Aeonis are difficult and almost impossible. Since nobody is willingly getting out, the place is for the rest of the people just like a part of an imagination.

Storyline

Atara, a young American girl, was one of the few chosen to join Aeonis. She was feeling relieved to leave everything back and to start her new adventure, but scared at the same time of what to expect. Atara was very surprised when she was chosen and now every part of her being wanted to learn about Aeonis. She saw Liu greeting her with a warm hug, and they approached together to the big boat that was waiting for them. After getting acquainted and eating a delicious dinner together, she and and Liu sat in a coffee table and that is where the storytelling began. Liu wanted to be specific and very visual about what he was going to explain to Atara, so he pointed to the projector and a picture of Aeonis appeared. Everything he was going to tell to Atara could be now visualized and controlled with his hand. Then the story of Liu began:

“Dear Atara, let me present Aeonis from the beginning. The name "Aeonis" is inspired by the term "aeon," which holds significance across languages and philosophical discussions. Originating from the word "aeon" (αἰών) it conveys meanings such as "age," "eternity," or "forever." Philosophically, this term has been used to explore concepts of time and infinity.

In different cultures an "aeon" represents emanations from the being, each embodying unique aspects of the universe or spiritual essence. "Aeon" is often a simplified word to refer to any indefinite period used to show a sense of timelessness. In Aeonis, the blend of technology and spirituality focuses rather on understanding and collaboration than conflict. This unique combination ensures that advanced technologies enhance quality of life while also nurturing depth and insight. This result is a society that embraces progress while honoring and treasuring wisdom.

At the heart of Aeonis’s philosophy lies the principle that every individual should have the freedom to explore their creativity, express themselves and engage with others. However, this freedom connects each to a shared responsibility where every member of society must be vigilant and mindful of their impact on both the environment and their fellow citizens. This delicate balance takes Aeonis forward by ensuring that individual liberties do not compromise community harmony or environmental sustainability.”

After saying this, Liu looked at Atara, who was surprised but at the same time confused. She was thinking and then a question popped up in her mind. “So, who is in charge and what are the rules of the city?” she asked.

Liu, who seemed very enthusiastic about the question, explained:

"In Aeonis, the Council of Wisdom is responsible for governing the land. This council is composed of individuals chosen by the people for their values, intelligence and empathy. Members are carefully selected based on their commitment to the well-being of all citizens, ensuring they embody the ideals of society. All the people decide carefully who gets chosen, and how long each one stays on power. That means that everyone can be a candidate, even you, Atara.

The electoral system in Aeonis encourages participation. This interactive approach enables the council to adjust to evolving needs, ensuring that governance reflects the aspirations of the people. Transparency plays a role as decision making processes are open to scrutiny and feedback, which fosters trust and accountability. The electoral system choses who from the outside can join Aeonis, based on their intentions. They also choose what technologies from the rest of the world are important and useful to be brought and further developed to the country.

A very important part is the justice in Aeonis, which is maintained through a system based more on values than measures. This approach focuses on community healing and assists offenders in rehabilitation, which places an emphasis on restoration over revenge. In the event of a wrongdoing, the process includes meetings involving the offender, the victim and community representatives. These discussions aim to understand the impact of the offense and determine how the offender can make amends by repairing connections and restoring damaged relationships.

Community panels play a role in the justice system by ensuring that the decisions align with community values and needs. If necessary, punitive actions are tailored to fit the offense and its societal repercussions. Incarceration is considered for safety reasons, when required. However, there are provisions in place for cases involving the violation of rights or homicides. In extreme cases, where there seem to be no way of compromise, legal actions are enforced. This may include isolation or exile. This is an area where community panels are very strict and clear. These measures are essential to uphold standards and ensure everyone's safety.”

After the quick recap from Liu, Atara was not exactly believing what Liu was telling her. She was living in a world where amends were out of question and punishment came first. It seemed like it was impossible to escape from that mindset. She was anyway eager to learn more about how she could live, work and what could she do with all her time in Aeonis. Liu seemed like he was reading her thoughts. He continued:

“In Aeonis, the connection between the economy and technology is carefully designed to prioritize sustainability and efficiency. On one side the economic structure focuses on reusing resources, adopting practices and fostering a culture of sharing to minimize waste and enhance well-being. Products are created to be either biodegradable or recyclable, while consumption aims to reduce pressure on production.

On the other side, Aeonis relies on energy sources such as solar, wind, tidal and geothermal power with advanced storage solutions in place. Smart technologies like IoT (Internet of Things) and AI (Artificial Intelligence) contribute to optimizing resource management. The community’s commitment to agriculture combines methods with advanced technologies to ensure the long-term health of their land. Agriculture is seen a form of meditation for the people and is also studied in school. Therefore, the food tends to be healthy and carefully selected. Also, there could rarely be a shortage of food since so many people are engaged in producing it.

There is no winter in Aeonis, so the sun will always bring you happiness. It is not too strong, but not too weak either. The rain on the other hand is very much present. Thanks to it the city can regenerate itself, grow the food needed to survive and give birth to plenty of new plants. Since I mentioned this, all citizens are expected to engage in some form of productive activity from the age of 18. This ensures that everyone contributes to and benefits from the society’s resources. Participation is linked to receiving societal benefits such as access to housing, healthcare, and education. Those who cannot work due to disability are provided for by the community. For the people younger than 18, work is not expected, but if the wish is there nobody has something against it.

Aeonis allows citizens to choose how and when they contribute, as long as they fulfill a set minimum of contribution times. This system accommodates different lifestyles and life stages, ensuring that everyone can find meaningful ways to participate without compromising their health or well-being. People are always more motivated when they know that the person they are working for is themself.

He looked at Atara’s concerned face and said: “But you don’t have to worry about that at first. You will be provided for by the community until you find your calling and what interests you the most. Then you will learn everything with time. You are already a part of us and we will care for you as we care for each other. If your calling is directed to other topics, like culture or environment, we got you covered.

The bond between culture and environment runs deep and makes a society that values the beauty of its surroundings. Artists in Aeonis often draw inspiration from the world, infusing their creations with patterns, colors and textures, mirroring those in their environment. Music incorporates nature derived sounds to compose melodies that harmonize with the surroundings. Similarly, literature is full with stories and poetry that exalt the beauty and uniqueness of nature, nurturing an admiration for the world among its people.

The community’s respect for the environment is evident in its preservation of wilderness areas. Not only for ecological reasons but also as spiritual havens for all. These sanctuaries offer solace and inspiration to individuals seeking reflection away from their routines.

In Aeonis, the city boasts plenty of spaces filled with green colors that create a bond between urban living and the natural world. This fusion of culture and nature encourages a respect for the environment as a part of everyday life, which leads to a sustainable relationship with the planet.

Buildings where people live are made of a rare ingredient that is connected with the earth and air, that feels any kind of disturbance like earthquakes or tornadoes. This activates the city’s protective system, a giant transparent wall that keeps the place intact. This is useful also for external threats, like a possible attack from other countries. But I can assure you Atara, this is not a thing you have to be scared of. We are very well prepared, protected and in peace.”

A sight of relief came from Atara’s mouth. She was sick of wars and enemies, angry and envious people. This was the first reason she wanted to leave everything behind and dive into something new. The world she was leaving behind was not her world anymore.

Liu interrupted her thoughts once more, shaking her again to reality. “ Something else that might be of your interest, is also how the healthcare system works. It goes beyond boundaries to focus on the well-being of its citizens, including their physical, mental and spiritual health. By combining technology with healing methods, they aim not only to cure diseases but also to improve people’s quality of life through preventive care.

Cutting edge diagnostic tools using artificial intelligence are used to predict and address health issues before they become serious, allowing for preventive measures. Alongside these high-tech solutions, Aeonis also emphasizes natural medicine practices such as treatments, acupuncture and holistic approaches like meditation and yoga, which is integrated into daily routines.

Aeonis places an emphasis on educating its population about health from an early age by teaching the importance of nutrition, exercise and maintaining a balanced lifestyle. The environment itself is designed to promote health through measures like pollution control, green spaces and urban planning that encourages living.

Healthcare services are available to everyone at no cost, reflecting the belief that healthcare's a right for all individuals. Doctors are respected and everybody is grateful for them. The religion isn’t very practiced in Aeonis and everybody can do and believe what they feel, but one interesting thing is that doctors are seen as superior beings, so don’t be surprised if you hear people on the street that say that their religion is Medicine. When it comes to advancements such as genetic modification, ethical concerns take center stage. These technologies are closely monitored to uphold freedom and moral principles. See, we carefully choose what technologies from the outside world help us best and how they can improve our lifestyle. The rule is really simple. If there are more Con's than Pro's, we try to replace that technology with something else, or learn to live without it.

As beautiful and organized as everything may seem, we also have the problems of overpopulation and climate change that we have had to deal with. In the end, it is not that the whole world is ours. Sometimes we have to deal with the consequences that the rest of the world causes.  After careful consideration, the community has integrated solutions to control the main problems they face in their daily life. On one hand, the city’s clever urban planning includes features like gardens and versatile buildings to create eco-friendly living spaces. Aeonis is leading the charge against climate change by shifting to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro and geothermal power, significantly reducing carbon emissions. Extensive reforestation efforts support biodiversity and contribute to carbon absorption. The city’s infrastructure is built to withstand weather events linked to climate change.

On the other hand, education and reproductive health services encourage family planning with economic incentives supporting smaller families, but everyone in the city follows a rule of having 2 children for every couple. Until now it has been only a spoken rule that everyone has chosen to follow for the good of the environment and community. The council on the other hand , maybe will plan to make it a written rule when they see that it is not taken seriously from the residents. To be honest, I doubt the day will come, since we have plenty of space and a lot of engaged people working to make the city better. These combined efforts effectively address population growth challenges and minimize the impact of climate change, which prepare the society for the future"

Liu noticed that Atara was getting tired from all the new information she was trying to absorb and the last hours felt literally like days. This was her reality now and she needed to try and get used to it. Nevertheless, she was very happy and excited to be a part of that community. The community of dreams, she thought. Liu left her alone to rest and closed the door. There was no rush to learn everything at once. She had all the time in the world. When she would wake up, her adventures in the “new” city would slowly begin.

Epilogue

Dystopian Contrast

Dystopian literature serves as a tale about the perils of pursuing a society to extremes. In George Orwell's "1984" we witness a society where constant surveillance stifles independent thought in the name of state security. The novel portrays a totalitarian state where the government, known as "The Party," led by the figurehead Big Brother, exercises extreme control over all aspects of life, including thoughts, speech, and actions.  It serves as a big warning about the dangers of totalitarianism and the extreme measures a government might take in the name of security and stability. Conversely, Aldous Huxleys "Brave New World" is one where true happiness and freedom are sacrificed for a superficial sense of contentment and stability, provided by technological interventions. The society described in "Brave New World" shows a chilling vision of a world where happiness is derived from ignorance and conditioned responses rather than from real emotional engagement or intellectual freedom. These dystopian realms raise concerns about the control exerted by technology and governments, illustrating how lofty ideals can transform into nightmares when human rights and freedoms are sacrificed for the sake of order and efficiency. In contrast, Aeonis integrates technology with a deep respect for human values. It supports the greater good without undermining individual rights or environmental integrity. Aeonis employs technology not for surveillance or control but as a tool to help people and to be transparent with them.

Stories such as "We" by Yevgeny Zamyatin, and "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury depict societies that value conformity over freedom, using surveillance and strict rules to suppress uniqueness and creativity. In contrast Aeonis celebrates the identities of its citizens as a core aspect of its culture. It promotes a system that treasures diversity, believing that true harmony arises from recognizing and honoring differences. Unlike the governments in those stories, Aeonis fosters an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect. Instead of using technology for control, this society leverages it to improve communication and understanding among its people.

Utopian Parallels and Deviations

Aeonis sets itself apart from Utopias like Sir Francis Bacons "New Atlantis" by acknowledging the implications of advancements. In Aeonis, progress in technology and spirituality work together to ensure that innovations enhance well-being while upholding values.

In Platos "Republic", the concept of philosopher kings ruling over a hierarchy with classes, collaborating for the common good while suppressing personal desires in favor of societal balance, was upheld. Similarly, Thomas Mores "Utopia" proposed a lifestyle devoid of possession, where inhabitants adhered to regulations to eliminate self-centeredness. Failure to comply meant sacrificing freedom.

While these utopian societies introduced concepts, they tended to overlook the evolving complexities of desires and the value of embracing diversity. Their visions depicted a world that viewed evolution as unnecessary or harmful. In these Utopias the connection with environment was often ignored.

Essentially, Aeonis bridges the gap between ideals and present-day challenges by advocating for a future that values diversity, sustainability and the worth of all living beings. It posits that true utopia is not about reaching a destination but rather advancing toward a fairer, empathetic and thriving world. This envisioned utopia serves as a guide for societies to strive for balance and harmony, not through suppression or dominance but by embracing technology, while respecting cultures and nature.