Concrete Utopian Thinking As Socio-Epistemic Practice. the Case of the Automation and the Maker Movements

In our talk, we want to show that an analysis of the generation of alternative futures can draw inspiration from Ernst Bloch’s notion of concrete-utopian thinking. Bloch analyzed the social embeddedness of utopian thinking and promoted the conscious mediation of (scientific) investigations of present social tendencies and the normativity of classical utopian visions. Consequently, we propose that concrete-utopian thinking can be understood as a socio-epistemic practice that facilitates the generation of alternative futures. Instead of reifying these ideas, we will show that their development takes place in contested fields of practice with divergent interests and complex (power) dynamics involved. Precisely because of this, the focus of ‘concrete utopias’ on developing and imperfect forms of experimentation in a dynamic and unfolding present enables us to trace emancipatory potentials without romanticising the realities of social development. Rather, we will argue that precisely in these opaque fields of practice lies potential for novelty that might not yet be expressed in public discourse. Our case studies will be two major emancipatory visions that have received increased attention in the past years: the emancipation from socially necessary labour propagated by progressive commentators in light of the accelerating wave of automation on the one hand and the self-determination of creative work due to highly adaptable, individualized and decentralised technology on the other hand. In the first example, progressive actors aim to push a new emancipatory discourse into politics. In the maker movement, novel digital platforms for knowledge sharing and production (e.g. 3D-printers) have spurred a wave of experimentation with novel organizational forms and emancipatory visions. Providing insights from both participatory action research and discourse analysis, we will shed light on the question how these ideas are embedded in social context and practices and how particular actors combine ‘imagination’ and ‘practice’ to push towards their alternative futures.