| abstract
| - It's a place built out of dreams and starlight; the name "Utopia" is a somewhat poignant pun by its author, blending the Greek words for Good Place (eutopia) and "No Place" (outopia), and despite (or perhaps because of) its unattainable nature, it has endured in myth and dreams since. While dreaming about what it would be like is harmless (like how topless glamour model volleyball would be the national sport, bureaucrats would work recycling paper, there's No Poverty and ice cream is just as delicious with none of the calories...mmmm...), it's just a dream based on nothing more solid than wishful thinking. For the Fallen Hero, Knight Templar, Dark Messiah, Well-Intentioned Extremist, and other villains, however, that's not the case. This evil architect plans to use the heart of an orphan or an Artifact of Doom, steal the Cosmic Keystone, or unleash a world ending war or plague to destroy all resistance and bring about his own idea of Utopia. The evil architect is probably operating under the assumption that this wonderful new world has him at the top, free to exert a benevolent or iron-fisted regime as he will. Using logic that would make Machiavelli blush, they reason that any and every sacrifice is worth making for this greater good, and the pursuit of this ideal puts the Well Intentioned in Well-Intentioned Extremist. A great deal of drama can be derived from this -- are they willing to kill a friend for it? Will they put their Visionary Villain where their mouth is and kill themselves if need be, or is there a line even they will not cross? Will they even admit that some of the things they do are Dirty Business? Some are able to inspire incredible devotion in their followers precisely because their vision and conviction is such that they know they won't live to see the paradise they plan to bring about, or don't deserve to. When it comes to different kinds of extremists, a Totalitarian Utilitarian is far more likely to think that Utopia Justifies the Means, while a Principles Zealot is more likely to believe that Utopia Justifies Nothing. This can be seen as a subversion of myths where the Apocalypse will bring about paradise. Heroes will be faced with the conundrum that, while this plan can very well work, and the world may certainly be going to pot like the villain says, is it worth sacrificing billions? In more morally ambiguous situations, the "means" might not be catastrophically destructive, all it takes is a "small", inconsequential sacrifice to bring about utopia. Say, selling every third generation to aliens, the daily ritual slaughter of a dozen people, or the ever popular Lotus Eater Machine on a planetary scale. If it guarantees the happiness of billions, isn't it worth it? The Heroes invariably decide that genocide is not the answer, and it's better to fix what you have than trash it. Expect the villain to quote Nietzche at them over their decision. If they succeed, the result is usually a World Half Empty or a Villain World. This is also often used as a justification for why Reed Richards Is Useless, since the temptation to go all out in fixing the world may see them careering right down this path. Often utilizes some form of Aesoptinum, generally with the message "Peace and harmony isn't worth getting rid of The Evils of Free Will". Curiously, the first example of a Utopia in recorded literature -- Plato's Republic -- is an example of this trope (possibly) played absolutely straight and not as means for the opposite Aesop. Plato argues that the establishment and survival of the perfect state requires a "noble lie" that the citizens must be taught to induce them to love the state unconditionally. Contrast Dystopia Justifies the Means, when the villain actively seeks to create a Crapsack World. See also Despotism Justifies the Means, where they will create or maintain either simply to remain in power. Examples of Utopia Justifies the Means include:
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