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Unanswered Cries By Thomas French
The book Utopia by Thomas More is about a discussion between the three main characters More, Giles and Hythloday of Utopian society, portraying a nation based on rational thought, with communal property, great productivity, and no love of gold, no real class distinctions, no poverty, little crime or immoral behavior, religious tolerance, and little inclination to war. Utopia is as close to ideal as it is because its inhabitants are ideal. The opposite is true, Utopia is close to ideal because it assumes that its population is not ideal. The land of Utopia has built its laws to make acting immorally irrational, and then uses its schools to teach its inhabitants how to think rationally. In other words, Utopia operates with the understanding that people act in their own best interests, and then formulates its laws and institutions so that an individual's best interest is also the best interest of the community. In a Utopian society individualism plays a role in the way that it plays on the idea of Utopia not being an ideal place because its people are perfect, but rather because its laws make it so that Utopian citizens must act perfectly despite their inherent failings as humans.
In the book it the people could express their individualism in their trade, Utopia allowed all of its citizens to pursue careers purely on the basis of interest. Individualism in the work market was devalued if one particular individual in a market- based economy who works incredibly long hours in order to beat out his competition is quite certainly more productive than the average Utopian worker, but a communal based system seems to be productive in the fact people in Utopia are not forced to toil for unconscionable hours each day. The Utopian day is broken into twenty-four hours; Utopians only work for six hours per day, three before lunch and three after. Utopians also sleep on average about eight hours a day. This leaves them with a great deal of free time, which they are free to do with as they will, as long as they do not spend it in debauchery or idleness. Most people use their free time to engage in intellectual pursuits. They also involve themselves in music, gardening, and physical activity. Those people who demonstrate a keen love and aptitude for intellectual pursuits are identified early and, as long as they are diligent in their studies, they are exempt from physical labor. If a laborer should demonstrate some great skill in his recreational intellectual efforts, he too can become exempt from is work if he desires.
Individualism is not represented in the many religions in Utopia which is shown in Book 13. The different religions meet in the same churches run by the same priests, and services emphasize the similarities between the religions. If some religion demands a rite or prayer that might be offensive to another, then that rite must be performed in a home in private, not in the church. [next page]