College of
Business
Administration
College of
Business
Administration
Looking Backward
What does Barton's sermon reveal about Bellamy's view on human nature? Is a different view of human nature compatible with Bellamy's society?
Bellamy uses a stagecoach metaphor to illustrate the issue of distributive justice. What metaphor is appropriate for society today? Develop a parallel metaphor that would describe utopia. Is unity and cooperation really possible using this system considering differences in wealth of resources, beliefs, cultural differences, backgrounds, and religions?
How much is diversity tolerated in the novel? Is there a fundamental conflict between the novel's utopia and diversity/independence of thought? How does this differ from views of ethnic, intellectual, and gender diversity in the late nineteenth century?
Bellamy's world values "cooperation and liberty." How are conflicts resolved between individual liberty and the good of the state? Should/would Bellamy's state produce cigarettes if enough people wanted them? Handguns? LSD? In your ideal world, where is the line drawn between liberty and cooperation for the greater good?
What was the goal of society in 1890? What was the goal of society of Bellamy's utopia? What is the goal of society today?
Is it reasonable to suppose that national monopolization of all industry is the natural end of the progression of efficiencies? How are monopolies viewed today? What is good about monopolization? What is bad about it?
Return to Professor Dunn's home page.