An aspect of Utopian society that I find particularly interesting and wise is the rule within Utopian government that the council is never to debate a topic on the same day that it is first proposed, “… so men may not rashly, and in the heat of discourse, engage themselves too soon, which might bias them so much, that instead of consulting the good of the public, they might rather study to support their first opinions…”

Our narrator appears to be partial to this idea, as it protects members of Utopian government from allowing emotional response to get the best of them, while simultaneously protecting the people from an excessively rash government. Naturally situations arise wherein a government must act (times of war, emergencies, etc.) but for the most part, I believe debate is critical in government decision-making. Good debate results in bringing the ultimate decision into the center, avoiding extremes that the citizenry might not find palpable. This idea has certainly been incorporated into contemporary society, and frankly it’s something I try to mimic in my own life. It reminds me a lot of the idea that one should not send an email when they’re angry, as one is not in the proper state of mind to craft an appropriate response. People make mistakes in the heat of the moment. To protect the people, government leaders must be protected from their own humanity.

– EG