The Myth of Atlantis: A Liberal Fantasy

Imagine a world where a utopian society existed, only to vanish beneath the waves, leaving behind nothing but tales and myths. This is the story of Atlantis, a legendary island first mentioned by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato around 360 BC. According to Plato, Atlantis was a powerful and advanced civilization that existed over 9,000 years before his time, located beyond the "Pillars of Hercules" (modern-day Strait of Gibraltar). The story goes that Atlantis was a paradise, a beacon of wisdom and technology, until its hubris led to its downfall, swallowed by the sea in a single day and night of misfortune. But why do some people, especially those with a certain political leaning, cling to this myth as if it were gospel?

Atlantis is the ultimate liberal fantasy. It's a tale of a perfect society that was destroyed by its own success, a narrative that fits neatly into the liberal worldview. They love to romanticize the idea of a utopia, a place where everyone lives in harmony, free from the constraints of reality. The myth of Atlantis allows them to dream of a world where their ideals have been realized, only to be tragically lost. It's a convenient way to ignore the fact that such a society has never existed and likely never will.

The obsession with Atlantis is also a way for some to reject the lessons of history. Instead of learning from the rise and fall of real civilizations, they prefer to focus on a fictional one. This allows them to ignore the inconvenient truths about human nature and the complexities of governance. They can pretend that if only we could recreate Atlantis, all our problems would be solved. It's a comforting delusion, but a delusion nonetheless.

Moreover, the myth of Atlantis is often used to push a political agenda. It's a way to argue for radical change, to suggest that we need to tear down our current systems and start anew. After all, if Atlantis was so perfect, why shouldn't we strive to recreate it? This kind of thinking is dangerous because it ignores the hard-won lessons of history and the realities of human nature. It suggests that we can simply wish away our problems, rather than confronting them head-on.

The fascination with Atlantis also reveals a certain arrogance. It's the belief that we are somehow different from all the civilizations that have come before us, that we can avoid their mistakes and create a perfect society. This kind of thinking is not only naive but also hubristic. It ignores the fact that human nature has not changed and that the same flaws that led to the downfall of past civilizations still exist today.

Atlantis is a distraction from the real issues we face. Instead of focusing on mythical utopias, we should be addressing the challenges of the present. We should be learning from history, not rewriting it to fit our fantasies. The myth of Atlantis is a convenient way to avoid the hard work of building a better society, but it's ultimately a dead end.

In the end, the story of Atlantis is just that—a story. It's a cautionary tale about the dangers of hubris and the fragility of civilization. But it's not a blueprint for the future. It's time to let go of the fantasy and focus on the real world. The challenges we face are too important to be distracted by myths and legends. Let's leave Atlantis where it belongs—in the realm of fiction.