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The Social Economy and Utopia: Paradoxes, Realism and the Theory of Complex Social Systems

In: Imagine, Studying the Relationship between Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) and Imaginary in the Era of Capitalocene

Author

Listed:
  • Ermanno C. TORTIA

    (Department of Economics and Management, University of Trento, Italy)

Abstract

This chapter considers utopia as prospective statements about social realities, representing “pole stars” for developing social thinking in development programs and policies. It aims to reconstruct the concept of utopia from a social economy point of view, striving to highlight what conceptual criteria can be used to classify different types of utopias, especially “feasible” and “unfeasible” on the one hand, and “good” and “bad” utopias on the other. To achieve these results, elements of complexity theory, social systems theory in the social sciences, and critical realism in philosophy are considered. Some examples referred to organization in the social economy are used to show how definitions and conceptual categories can be applied to real-world cases, or to utopian ideas that achieved some degree of relevance in culture and science (Hedrén, 2014).

Suggested Citation

  • Ermanno C. TORTIA, 2024. "The Social Economy and Utopia: Paradoxes, Realism and the Theory of Complex Social Systems," CIRIEC Studies Series, in: Alexandrine LAPOUTTE & Timothée DUVERGER & Eric DACHEUX & CIRIEC (ed.), Imagine, Studying the Relationship between Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) and Imaginary in the Era of Capitalocene, volume 6, chapter 8, pages 135-148, CIRIEC - Université de Liège.
    • Handle: RePEc:crc:chapte:6-08
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    utopia; complexity theory; social systems theory; critical realism; paradoxes; social economy organizations;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A13 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Social Values
    • B55 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Social Economics
    • L31 - Industrial Organization - - Nonprofit Organizations and Public Enterprise - - - Nonprofit Institutions; NGOs; Social Entrepreneurship
    • O35 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Social Innovation
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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