My first thought when starting Book 2 was: this place seems really boring. Reading about how each of the 54 cities/country towns are "identical in language, manners, customs and laws," I could not imagine being happy in a place like this. I know that the point of making everything the same is to rid society of "unnecessary desires" and to not make any one person better than another. However, I cannot imagine a life without different cultures and languages. While these differences may be a problem for many people in this world, I find them to be beautiful and intriguing and therefore I would not want to be a part of More's Utopia.
I can, however, appreciate the fact that in this utopia, basic skills like agriculture are taught to everyone. I think that's an important concept that should be implemented everywhere. At this time, agriculture was an important skill set and one that everyone should have. In today's time, there are many skills that everyone should be taught, but sadly are not.
I can, however, appreciate the fact that in this utopia, basic skills like agriculture are taught to everyone. I think that's an important concept that should be implemented everywhere. At this time, agriculture was an important skill set and one that everyone should have. In today's time, there are many skills that everyone should be taught, but sadly are not.
I completely agree with you on the weirdness of Utopia's boring lack of diversity. The meaning of the word "utopia" is "no place," so More cheekily reminds us, through his invented word that conceptualizes his book, that for people to live in harmony, lacking the very human, diverse qualities that make us unique, is indeed impossible.
ReplyDeleteReem and Jennifer, I agree with you both that More's cookie cutter utopia was BORING. Thank you Reem for highlighting how beautiful differences and that we don't need to change that to have a utopia. Rather utopians would need to learn acceptance of people, concepts, and culture that are different from our own.
ReplyDeleteI think your emphasis on how society has changed is compelling. I totally agree, it is very interesting to note how agriculture, for instance, is a skill set that people should understand, but in today's time do not. Your post makes me wonder what the pursuit of knowledge would/should be in a Utopia in general. In our society, education is a privileged, but maybe it is a norm in a Utopia.
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