In the dialogue, Utopia, written by Sir Thomas Moore, there are multiple aspects to Utopian society that may strike out in some form or fashion to the reader, whether those aspects may be simply odd, interesting or even appalling. However, if I had to pick out one aspect of More’s Utopian society that stuck out to me in an interesting fashion, it would be the Utopians’ definition of what pleasure truly means in their society, and, I have various reasons to think so in that regard. First of all, I found it interesting how the Utopians associated the term pleasure with the term of “happiness,” especially considering that the two terms do not appear to be very ambiguous with one another. However, they ground their reason for this association
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However, I will disagree with the notion in this philosophy that a person’s sins or vices should be so …show more content…
The Utopians define the true pleasures of mankind as those that mankind can find a natural delight, saying that some pleasures “belong to the body” and “others to the mind” (51). In other words, they can find pleasure in keeping their bodies fit and healthy, as well as flooding their minds with knowledge. Any sort of pleasure that opposes these kinds of pleasures the Utopians define as counterfeit pleasures, or, those that are not naturally delightful. Take the Utopians encounter with the Anemolians for instance. When the Anemolians first arrive to the city of Amaurot, Utopia’s central city, they appear lavished in all sorts of garish attire, adorned with “massy chains,” “earrings and rings of gold,” and “covered with bracelets set full of pearls and other gems” (44). When the Utopians take notice of this, they essentially regard their gaudy attire as the mark of a slave, primarily because they view such jewelry and trinkets as useless to their society, and, more or less, as counterfeit pleasures to the Anemolians. While I do find that the Utopians division of pleasures as either true or counterfeit is reasonable, given that they wish to prevent over-indulgence and primarily sloth, I do not agree with some of the pleasures in life they label as counterfeit. For instance, would it be so wrong
However, I will disagree with the notion in this philosophy that a person’s sins or vices should be so …show more content…
The Utopians define the true pleasures of mankind as those that mankind can find a natural delight, saying that some pleasures “belong to the body” and “others to the mind” (51). In other words, they can find pleasure in keeping their bodies fit and healthy, as well as flooding their minds with knowledge. Any sort of pleasure that opposes these kinds of pleasures the Utopians define as counterfeit pleasures, or, those that are not naturally delightful. Take the Utopians encounter with the Anemolians for instance. When the Anemolians first arrive to the city of Amaurot, Utopia’s central city, they appear lavished in all sorts of garish attire, adorned with “massy chains,” “earrings and rings of gold,” and “covered with bracelets set full of pearls and other gems” (44). When the Utopians take notice of this, they essentially regard their gaudy attire as the mark of a slave, primarily because they view such jewelry and trinkets as useless to their society, and, more or less, as counterfeit pleasures to the Anemolians. While I do find that the Utopians division of pleasures as either true or counterfeit is reasonable, given that they wish to prevent over-indulgence and primarily sloth, I do not agree with some of the pleasures in life they label as counterfeit. For instance, would it be so wrong