In Wednesday’s class
discussion on Thomas More’s Utopia,
Miranda presented an interesting dilemma regarding the procurement of objects.
The Utopia had an excess of products which they made available to whoever
needed it. Miranda brought to the class’s attention the question of what was to
prevent the Utopians from abusing this privilege of an endless store of objects?
Similarly, what was to force the Utopians to value and take care of their
possessions if they could be so easily replaced at no monetary cost to
themselves? More’s idea of the communal storehouse with endless amounts of
articles needs improvement in order to create a true “utopia.” As I read
chapter 15 “On the Lack of Incentive to Labor in a Communist Society” from
William Morris’ News from Nowhere, I
felt Morris created a better solution to the “consumer issue” raised in Utopia.
Hammond explains to the narrator in Chapter 15 of News from Nowhere how the 19th
century and the industrial revolution affected the world and society. Hammond
describes for the narrator how with the implementation of machines that could
quickly and easily produce products capitalism began to dominate society as we
knew it. Hammond describes to the narrator the “World-Market” and how “that
World, once set a-going, forced them to go on making more and more of these
wares, whether they needed them or not” and continued “they created in a never
ending series sham or artificial necessaries, which became, under the iron rule
of the aforesaid World-Market, of equal importance to them with the real
necessaries which supported life” (Ch.15). Which is sadly where our current
society stands. When we need something, or think we need something, we go on
Amazon or some other online retailer to buy it cheaper and get more of it. We either
overlook or aren’t aware of the fact that while there is a low monetary price
tag attached to what we buy, the price of humanity is getting increasing
higher. What I mean is that while we can buy the latest, wonderful invention
created to make our lives easier for under $10.99 with free shipping, we
sacrifice the human and fair treatment of the people producing the products and
the protection of our environment. The Utopians of Morris’ News from Nowhere have solved this problem by putting pride and
value back into the production of products— not just the products themselves. These
Utopians produce only what is needed and necessary and nothing else.
Essentially solving the “excess crisis” in our own capitalist society and the
potential for it in More’s Utopia.
