The City of Amaurot

I thought it would be fun to go on a trip through Utopia. I had to finish the book but wouldn't expect you all to do it. Funny, I hated social studies in school. It is interesting that we always have the same ideas and dreams for a society during every generation. Each has to sort out what inhibits them from reaching potentials and what practical things can be done to improve those potentials. There are two kinds of potential for an individual, one of productivity and the other that concerns happiness. And there are social approaches for of each of these. The question becomes about whether the potential originates from a social structure or by individual character. And if both, how much is needed of each and what takes precedence.
Utopia is an example of improvement from a social structure and many of the ideas have been mentioned by social planners in the last century. So let's have a little fun and look at the lives of the Utopians. In the same manner as in The Republic, there is an application to different areas of social structure.  Let's begin with how their cities are laid out. We will skip the political discourses and character introduction and confine ourselves to the principles to keep this brief.
Interestingly, the country is an island shaped like a crescent. Their cities have no houses, but they have wide streets and the home fronts run continuously along both sides of the streets. They are set up similar to a large mall where all the back doors open up to an enclosed common garden that everyone tends while the fronts open up to the street. They take pride in their beautiful plants but have little use for the ornamentation of their homes.The doors are on hinges similar to a diner where they swing in or out. There are no locks on the doors, but families do have their own dwellings. Even so, anyone can come and go as he pleases. There is a lot of glass, but no one has a better home than anyone else since the entire city is commonly owned. The dwellings are rotated once every ten years by lot. The front started out as one-story structures, but they now have as many as three, with a flat roof out of materials that resist fire.
Now their government is elected every year and they have two hundred representatives. Out of every ten, a leader is chosen and they are the ones who choose the prince. They have to vow that they will choose the best person for the job using no favoritism. The prince is for life although he can be easily removed if he tries to enslave the people. The prince and leaders meet every third day and there has to be a couple representatives present that are rotated in every day to make sure the common people are represented. No one is allowed to meet anywhere else concerning the matters of the state upon penalty of death. This is to avoid factions and leaders that want to change the government. There has to be a proper meeting of officials for state matters and a completely public meeting if needed for things that will affect everyone. They send for all the representatives, then have everyone discuss the matters in their homes before calling the public meeting. No decisions can be made on the same day the issues are presented just in case the debate gets heated causing rash decisions. Personal conflicts are few and the prince decides them.
All the Utopians know agriculture very well and are employed in gardens or the field. They are also educated and have trades. The fashion never changes and everyone is dressed similarly. The families make their own clothes. Work is regulated to three hours before lunch and three afterward, a total of six hours. Everyone has to work, there are no excuses. The representative's main job is to make sure everyone works. You won't find anyone sitting around. The rest of the day is spent tending gardens, listening to music, engaging in discussions, education and of course everyone exercises since health is a top priority for them. Neglecting one's mind or health is disgusting to them. Their work clothes last seven years since they don't work too hard. If someone is interested in a trade, a family who knows it will adopt them as a member and raise them up in it.
Well, I thought I could make this brief but am only half way through. The next post will continue on how the Utopians have no need for money or barter. They reserve jewels so their children can enjoy the shine but think adults should mature out of the need for shiny things. Hope you are enjoying this trip through Utopia. More next time...