Part I, Model Answers
1a
“Plato’s inclusion of narrative imitations is not only justifiable against, but in accordance with his argument. The argument made by Socrates is one against his contemporary peers, in light of their education and expectations. To persuade a society that stems from the poetic, imitative tradition, poetry and imitation are the appropriate method of discourse.
If these narrative imitations were to be used within Socrates’ ideal society, then their merits would require further justification. The danger of the imitative arts, according to Plato, is the confusion of ideas contained and the ideas of the author. Another danger is the presentation of ideas from outside citizens’ own experience, offering these ideas a fanciful place in their imaginations. Against such hazards, the myth of err and the allegory of the cave could be acceptable due to their messages supporting the ideals of kallipolis, even though they would plant a deadly precedent in defying the beautiful city’s censorship.”
1b
“The three distinct parts of the soul represent the sections of Plato’s kallipolis. Plato shows that no one is completely rational or greedy or spirited and in fact if one were they would not be completely just. Any part by itself can see injustice as more beneficial. But with all three together the soul can be just. The parts are distinct to illustrate the human thought process. Upon making any decision, the idea develops in one part of the soul then is questioned by the other two. The outcome is just action. But if the parts were not distinct, there would be no checks. Unjust ideas would develop and happen without thoughts against them. Thus the three parts of the soul are required to be distinct among just people.”
2a
“The proper use of resources is the most fundamental characteristic of More’s Utopia. Wises use causes resources to be abundant. This keeps the population satisfied. It also makes utopia more powerful than surrounding nations, furthering its abundance.
The wise use of resources allows for increased discipline among the people. They won’t quarrel as much because they know that they have a good share. The discipline will also curb greed. All of this will bring happiness and respect for the leaders. Without wise resource use Utopia would fall apart.”
2b
“Utopian visions are used to demonstrate what a more perfect society would be like. This vision often begins with pointing out the present problems and injustices in society and altering policies, laws or social norms to change the outcome and produce a better place to live. Islands are the ideal—or became ideal after More—for this type of change to take place. An island is isolated. This allows one to form his own culture without any outside influence, ideas or criticisms. It allows for a completely blank slate, so an individual can leave the old society behind. Islands have few visitors and few people on the island leave as well. This helps keep the utopian ideals pure and prevents the citizens from questioning their leaders’ laws and visions; you only know what you are taught and only question what you know. The isolation provides the means to have a passive and obedient community. An island allows for a society to be self-sufficient. This would give everyone a place and function, which would in turn produce an efficient society and prevent laziness. Islands are only so big, so the population would be limited. A set number of people is not only easier to govern and teach but also easier to sustain. The leaders would be able to plan and store resources for the future, giving the citizens promise of future satisfaction. The ease of forming a new set of laws, new culture, self-sufficiency and limited population all makes islands an attractive place to start a utopia.”
3a
“By this statement, it can be seen that the Houyhnhnms have a lack of knowledge about evil by their not having a word for lying. It can also be seen that they do not explore possibilities, because we see twigs floating all the time in ponds. It is very simple to extend that to building a boa. This passage also shows that the H’s reason is also flawed. If there is no evidence to the contrary to something being possible, then it is. There was no evidence against land beyond the island, yet there was something. Therefore, it seems that the H. aren’t as reasonable as they appear.”
3b.”In Gulliver’s Travels, Gulliver first comes to the land of the H. because the men on his boat mutiny against him and maroon him there. At the end of the novel Gulliver is expelled from the land by a council of H. Viewing the buccaneers of Gulliver’s ship as a body of appetitive beings and Gulliver as a comparatively rational being, Swift uses this incident to show that appetitive and rational beings cannot coexist. In mirror to this at the end, Swift uses the H. to depict a body of rational beings and Gulliver as a comparatively appetitive being to show again these opposing forces cannot coexist. In this way Swift is using the plot of his novel to illustrate that completely appetitive beings and completely irrational beings cannot exist in harmony. The reader sees that each side rejects the other and depending which is the stronger body of beings, that is the will you will follow. Thus, Swift is commenting on Plato’s tripartite soul.”
4a
“The various histories of women living in Millenium Hall help portray key features in Scott’s version of utopia. The age range of women is large but regardless of age, all women can enjoy the eleven principle articles and societal features. Key features existing within the society are freedom and security. Most women come from unwelcoming societies and harsh emotional backgrounds and Millenium Hall provides them a sanctuary. Two women in particular help portray M. H’s purpose. Ms selvyn existed within a society that didn’t look favorably on her education and had constant male pressure from Lord Robert. MH provided her with the freedom to expand her education and security from male pressures. Ms Trentham lived in a society that included harassment from her cousins and rejection from a male, Mr. Alworth, due to her lack of physical attractiveness. M H provided her with freedom of harassment and security from emotions associated with male rejection. The society provides all women with confidence, services, affections, and conversations that may not have been available in their past societies.”
4b
As far as execution and ideas, Utopia Ltd probably had the best method of emphasizing the importance of women in society, but it’s not always clear in the story itself. While it’s true that Utopia Ltd. Seems and erroneous political solution to its problems, the idea of women in its world, socially and otherwise, is stellar. First there is the speech by Mr. Gold[bury], who openly lectures “Why an English girl of the highest type is the best, most beautiful, the bravest and the brightest creature ..” Since English society is the lynchpin of Utopia Ltd’s view of the world as a whole, to openly confer this status onto women is fascinating, because all the characters of the English society confess openly and easily to it. What’s more, the female leads of Sophy and Zara are the most intelligent characters in the opera. Sophy questions the nature and quality of the king’s rule by thinking him foolish for not executing his detractors, and Zara is the one who believes that government by party is the only way to make their society function. The worst example of women in utopias may actually be Millenium Hall itself, for the many ways it dwells upon a utopia that can’t exist because a) its existence reasserts another, more oppressive society to exist b) half the earth’s population is not admitted to this utopia. All other utopias have at least a possibility of furthering human society because they require both genders to work in unison. MH is simply an isolated woman’s retreat, and could never effectively work on a whole scale for the world’s benefit.”
5a
“A limited company relieves the liability of the people in
it. When applying the concept to people, everyone becomes burdenless
in society when on one is held responsible for their actions. Thes satirizes the
corruption of companies in
5b
“Obviously Utopia Ltd is a satire on