The Value of Gold and Absence of Monetary Value

Though not explicitly a law or policy in Utopian society, what I found particularly interesting, astonishing, and equally unrealistic at the same time, was the insignificant value of precious metals and absence of money in this ideal society. Ultimately, this concept is attributed to the severely socialist-based society into which Utopia is made. All citizens produce for the entire society, and consumption is equal as well.

“Whatever he asks for, he’s allowed to take away without any sort of payment, either in money or in kind. After all, ‘why shouldn’t he? There’s more than enough of everything to go round, so there’s no risk of his asking for more than he needs.” Hythloday goes on to say that no living creature is inherently greedy, aside from “want” or “in the case of human beings, from vanity.” Hythloday introduces this discussion by addressing that it will come as a shock to most, and he himself was also astonished to learn of such an ideology. Nonetheless, I believe Hythloday–as an idealist, and admirer of the Utopian society–blindly accepts and relishes at every aspect of this idealized civilization. He’s taken by their use of gold and silver, as common materials to create housewares and even made into rings to distinguish slaves from civilians.

Realistically, I feel as though Hythloday understands there cannot be an absence of money and a lack of value placed on gold and silver. In “regular” society, currency and commerce, as well as the value of precious metals, is something that simply won’t instantaneously diminish. Still, the concept is a contemporary one: money is the root cause of greed and vanity that taints humanity.

– Stephanie Sica