Book 2

Ok, I just wrote down some notes. I did not touch everything because some of the details were trite and redundant.

More talks about the physical nature of Utopia, which seems somewhat bland and standard. He does note some scientific ideas to be used (such as in breeding) to help the overall utility of Utopia, but this is not his main point. He talks about the rivers, the beauty, history, etc. of Amaurot and of Utopia. Finally, he talks about the government and the people. Some notes: everyone wears the same clothes that they make, specialization in trade, it is the job of people to make sure other people are doing their jobs, people only work six hours a day, women are kept generally idle, people are 'voted' to stop working, and unnecessary labor is never done.

'Of Their Traffic'
Families have quotas and limits as to the number per household. The oldest man in each family is the governor of that family. Slaves are forced to do the dirty work for the Utopians who are too good for that sort of work. Medicine is distributed in a hierarchy, from hospitals, to government officials, then finally to families. The best of food and provisions is given to the elders. Everything seems to be determined by age. Food is always served with music (awesome).

'Of the Traveling of the Utopians'
Travel is socialized. Passports are administered. AWOL results in harsh punishment. No alcohol houses. They use 1/7 of exported surplus to poor people in foreign countries. Bonds are used to fund major expenses. Mercenaries are used in extreme events. No use of money. Iron has more value than gold or silver. Gold and silver are used in odd instances, while iron, earth, clay, etc. are used in more useful areas. Funny thing: they make fun of foreigners who wear traditional jewelry. Science, philosophy, and religion are practiced. Two factions debate over how virtue and happiness interact. Wisdom = man to pursue personal pleasures as far as law allows, while piety = man to pursue societal pleasures over private pleasures. Utopians believe that nothing within them is pleasant. Health = greatest bodily pleasure. They are constantly pursuing knowledge.

Some points that I disagree with: the state should not describe almost every detail which a person should do and live by. Examples: clothes, housing requirements, job duties, disassociation of wealth, precise traveler permits, among others. Perhaps one major downfall is the motivation of people. In this state, virtue, knowledge, and utility are sought after traits. Although well meant on paper, not practical in a real world situation. Extrinsic motivation, not intrinsic motivation is needed for people to actually do things. The 500 people are exempt from working serve as the primary motivation for Utopians. People need an array of things: convertibles, Las Vegas, ball games, beer, midlife crises, and money. Some of the insights More gives might help some of the utility of the state, but would critically go against the foundations of a laissez faire society.

First and foremost - More, if you have a reincarnate, please revise any literature or political science work you write. Although politics and literature often times come together, and often times work in a meaningful and enjoyable manner, your book does not. At first thought, there are two ways to approach this. 1) Mr. More, you can write a political philosophy or political science book that basically outlines what you think society should or should not do. This happens frequently, as many political books are written solely for the sake of politics. 2) You can write a literature book that is engaging, that has political undertones that the reader can draw conclusions to by actively think about the work, and that has some sort of literature meaning to it. Just please don't try to draw some sort of fictitious, superfluous plot into your political science book or make the conclusions so straightforward that the thoughts become so less self-found that the thoughts are more dictations.

Yell at long-deceased author? Check. Next on the to-do list: say something semi-meaningful.

Skipping straight to the politics: there are many facets in More's argument (ultimately with himself) of what a society should/should not be and should/should not do. First note of interest is the will and position of self vs. society (More presumes a monarchy). The idea of a republic or a democracy has not really not been well orchestrated or delivered since Golden Age Greece, but even that was sub-par in comparison to the ideals set forth in modern times. Considering the era in which this piece is written, the pragmatism of a monarchy was appropriate - although history has progressed the most utility-driven society towards the democratic republic (a micro and macro evolution seems to have taken place in the course of history to what it is today). The next topic of interest to me is the idea of capital punishment. More seems to take a Draconian approach to punishment - even something as a mere petty theft. Bluntly said, this is ridiculous. "You steal a loaf of bread! Now, you have to go be in our army or be a slave for the rest of your life." Awesome, I guess that I should be enslaved for the piece of gum I stole in first grade. The irony: forgiveness does not seem to have been mainstream in a predominantly Christian society (or even a predominately Christian More himself). More (not the Thomas kind) or less, each facet of this argument can be dissected, but the big picture gets called into question. Moral and social presumptuousness. Who is it to decide what the meaning of the cog of a person is in the machine of society? More decides for himself and for everyone else what their newly radical style of life is going to be in this Utopia. Immediately he knows what is the perfect best for society (nothing against More, but is it a person's, a congress's, or even a nation's duty to define every movement of a person?) The character, the creativity, even the essence of man is distorted into the unquantifiable idea of 'utility.' Sure, this idealism works if people can be reduced down to equations. But, that is all people would be - equations of function, ideas, actions, and life. Sigh. Keep your Utopia, please.