I have now lived in Indiana longer than any other place in the world. I understand that Indiana is seen as somewhat "backward" and conservative in the worst sense of the word. This, despite Indiana's history of pursuing avante-garde Utopian designs. We won't touch on Kinsey's fatally flawed "research" in this post. but let Kinsey stand as an enduring symbol to the world that Indiana is not as backward as some might think, though Indiana's esteem of Kinsey would rank us among the blindest.
On to New Harmony. Truly this is a fascinating story. A testament to the world that if we learn from history, life really would go a lot easier.
Harmonie was settled by a break-away Lutheran religious sect known as the Harmonists. Fleeing persecution in Germany they landed in America and kept running! Lest we disparage these hearty souls, history shows that in Harmonie they were able to found a prosperous community. Most of the people in southern Indiana at that time lived in one room cabins but the Harmonists lived in massive dorms. They were able to build a town that was thriving and successful. Their spirit of cooperation and hard work paid off in spades.
What does one do with a thriving town? Sell it! For a cool $150,000.
Robert Owen was a Welshman with a vision. As a social reformer and Utopian thinker Owen sought the perfect society with the aid of William Maclure. Together, the two started their grand experiment in 1825 with the creative name, New Harmony.
(cue soundtrack: Imagine, by John Lennon)
They created a cashless society where everything was owned by everyone. Private ownership was not allowed. Many leading intellectuals joined Owen and Maclure. They even started the first public school.
(cue new soundtrack: Live and Let Die by Paul McCartney)
Alas, all was not well and there was trouble in paradise. They couldn't get along and the intellectuals didn't want to work, they wanted to think. Others didn't want to work and not get paid. Josiah Warren, one of the founders along with Owen put it like this, "our 'united interests' were directly at war with the individualities of persons and circumstances and the instinct of self-preservation." New Harmony was anything but harmonious and in 1829 the experiment concluded in discord.
What has become of New Harmony? It is still there and there are still some intellectuals living there as well. People own houses and are paid for their labor. It is a nice place, and a fun place to visit with its rich and interesting history. In fact, throughout the year many intellectuals visit New Harmony. They take in the history and wonderful art exhibits. I wonder why they don't stay?
The Harmonists? Well, whereas Owen and his friends could not seem to cooperate and thus are no more, the Harmonists weren't so good at cooperating either. They were industrious, but they were celibate. It is hard to keep a society growing without procreation. I think it is safe to say that procreation takes cooperation as well. Interestingly enough, the Harmonists settled in Pennsylvania, the same state with a town called Intercourse.
(cue sountrack: anything by Barry White or this from the Flight of the Conchords)
What lessons are to be learned from history? Well, without procreation, extinction is assured. This is why in about 20-30 years Europe will be Islamic. (We can do that post later)
Owen's experiment is trickier to dissect. Many communal societies have thrived. They tend to be small and people willingly lay down their individualism for the good of the community. Yet, time after time we see a coercive type of "communalism" show up in the forms of socialism and communism. When that type of community is coerced the community seems to be doomed. This is what was alluded to in the Scrooge nation post. When the government is in control of society the people don't need to care about their neighbor, nor really their location. The "pride in ownership is lost." Is collapse inevitable? Are people born with an innate sense that they are meant to be free? How is the tension between free and cooperation best managed?
Please comment and let's see what we come up with.
(cue soundtrack: People Got to Be Free by The Rascals)
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