Utopia part 3

Slaves: nothing new from previous posts

Sick: When the sick become terminally ill, they are encourage and given permission (of course) to end their lives via starvation or opium, as they are no longer able to contribute to the community.

Hmm. sounds like crazy utilitarian stuff to me, nothing particular new or innovative, but the cold and pragmatic approach I would expect from the Utopians. Suicide is also condemned when permission is not given, which just further enhances the point that not even a squirrel may fart in Utopia without expressed permission of the senate.

Marriage, the Bride and Groom inspect each other naked before deciding to marry.

Yet more typical Utopian shenanigans, it does not surprise me that the Utopians base their logic of this practice on the same reasoning that one uses to purchase a horse, thats livestock people, a possession on the same level as a companion for life ( it does make some sense though).

side note: Fools they laugh at fools, who seem implied to be retarded people...
Yet again, anther pragmatic approach to a situation, there culture foundation on logic makes them seem less like a nation of people and more like a collective biological AI, creepy.


Policy: they have a lean legal system and no lawyers.

Good idea for once, allowing legal cases to be decide as the appear at least allow for a little expression of individuality.

War: they are trained in war but hate to engage in it, when they must, the combine mercenaries with bribes aimed at sedition to end conflicts at a minimal cost to Utopian life.

Nice that their con-war but their viewing the loss of mercenary life as a positive, combined with their bribe techniques portray Utopian as more snooty and conceded than I expected.

Religion: Pagan with leanings to a monotheistic core belief, eager to accept Christianity as well as not punishing anyone based on religion

Go free religion! but other than that, I found little of interest in this chapter, Pagans who are quasi Christian and want to convert to this new faith is so cliche it seems as if More was obligated to write this portion as he did.
p.s. Mithras is a Persian god (I think), nice touch on historical accuracy on More's part.

Music their music is a vessel for the passions it seems and is used in religious ceremonies as a method of honoring their deity

Based on the description, it sounds like Utopian can actually manage a little persoanl expression and I'm relieved to see that they also take joy in something so universal as music.

Overall the Utopians gave me a Socialism meets children of the corn vibe, they creep me out and I would absolutely despise to live in their colonl-er.. society.

One final brain teaser: This author wrote A Man for All Seasons, where the main character dies in defense of his self hood, his personal character, and yet in this ideal society, all personal expression and excellence is devalued in favor of complete service to the masses of the, methinks the truth must lie somewhere in between.