After reading the Utopia, I checked some information about socialism, and presented a little thought here.
Socialist ideals have influenced throughout the history of literature; from Plato to Marx, the goal of a perfect state has taken up some of the best minds in political thought manifesting itself in literature. Among these, the most famous one is the Utopia of More, a work which links the utopias of the ancient with the utopias of the modern. The fantasy island draws on the Greek Republic and yet it influenced the revolutionary world of Marx.
Utopia lacks classes because everyone shares the same work, everyone is equal, and everyone has the same rights. In Utopia there is an obligation for all to work a minimum of six hours everyday at whatever he is best at. All people spend time in the country working the land, as this is an agriculturally based society they must assure themselves of continued crop growth. In addition to creating the same conditions for everyone, this assures that they will have enough supplies to suppress the animal fear of want. All clothing is plain and simple, designed only for utility and practicality. More points out that if someone was dressed in ‘finer’ material, he would not be better protected against the cold, nor would he appear better dressed to the Utopians. Hereditary distinctions do not exist because children are easily moved around from household to household, depending on which occupation he would like to learn. Since there is very little distinction in occupation, dress, lodging, riches, or use of free time, pride is almost non-existent in Utopia.
In Utopia there is no exploitation. This is of course something that More realized and was one of his reasons for suggesting a Utopia. More was most likely revolted by the luxury of sixteenth century Europe’s ruling class. He saw that this luxury was a result of the poverty of the surrounding peasants and if poverty was to be excluded from Utopia then so must the ruling class’ luxury. More saw that there was no benefit to the common good if all of the peasants work day and night, and the work only benefits a very small minority. This cannot be called the evolution of society. This idea of More’s that each and every worker must be able to see and enjoy the fruits of his labor and cannot be simply drudges.
The most efficient manner with which to rid the world of corruption and crime, advises More, is to put a great emphasis on education. Utopian education is entrusted to priests to prevent such vices. Since the Utopians have such a strong educational system, they need very few laws and the laws that do exist are subject only to the most obvious and easiest interpretation. Most sociologists would agree with More that education breeds morality and virtue, and so would Marx. Marx says that one of the key things of a true communist society, and one of the only ways it would come about, is if equal education would be given to all. Remember that in the sixteenth century, free and equal education for all would be a unique concept.
It seems every political scientist would agree that a proper government is always necessary for a state, in order to maintain internal peace and security. Utopia has a government in the form of magistrates and a prince who handle affairs of the country. This does not, as mentioned above, contradict the idea of communism, as the Utopian political body’s sole purpose is to maintain the existing arrangements of society and to prevent idleness. The government is designed in the most responsible way. All matters must be considered for a day and can never be passed without three days of contemplation. It is a capital offense to consult together on public affairs outside the senate or the people’s assembly. Raphael says of this, “They take care to deliberate wisely rather than speedily…considering the public good.” [More 33] As would be expected, Marx also requires a form of government to hold his society together. For him, however, the government is only needed until the society has evolved to the point that it is no longer needed.
Thus Utopia is a world in which socialism is more than a monetary common good. The Utopians are also joined together in love for each other and humanity. Nevertheless, More’s Utopia anticipates the characteristics of a modern classless society, although not proposing any means by which to obtain this blissful paradise. It is also a book of criticism of the ruling class at the expense of the lower peoples. His work is often used as a sort of inspiration for revolutionaries, but More sees more than just this change of state He sees a moral revolution, whereby institutional values are replaced by true Christian morality and more humane values. As much as Utopia does not represent communism, it does not promote revolution. It is only a satire of More’s England, In effect saying, “If the Utopians can create such a good and just state with only natural reason to guide them, why can’t England, belonging to a religion which promotes goodness and brotherly love, come up with something at least as good?” This then is More’s wish, a Christian socialism.
Tags: English
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