Kyle Sheehan

FYS 100 Section 50 – Social Utopias

Dr. Watts

November 10, 2015

Question: How does Amish life embody the utopian ideals described by Thomas More in comparison to the rest of society?

The Amish approach to life can be compared to few others. Amish living can best be described as a fundamental, simplistic, Christian way of interacting with others in a communal setting. Their religious affiliation unites the Amish into a tight, driven, hard working community. The article “One Day in the Life of an Amish Woman” gives a firsthand glimpse into the structure and behavior of the Amish. The woman gives a narrative about her daily encounters with her family and other members of the Amish Community. She argues that the Amish views and approach are superior in the raising of children. (One day in the life an Amish Woman p2,3). The Amish are more similar to More’s view of a utopia due to their emphasis on equality and division of labor. They further exemplify More’s utopian ideals with their policy of seclusion and their intense commitment to bettering the community.

The Amish settlements make an effort to foster two utopian ideals, harmony and equality (One day in the life of an Amish Woman p2 line37). More argues that a utopia cannot exist without harmony. Harmony and equality, both in terms of property and in terms of superiority, are key to keeping peace within a community. They attempt to attain these attributes by establishing rules within Amish life. One member of the settlement is forbidden from suing another so as to create less issues between the members (One day in the life of an Amish Woman p2 line39). The idea of equality is presented in the Amish approach to labor. Being a primarily agricultural based society, the Amish put a very large emphasis on hard and tedious work. The Amish achieve this equality by the equal division of labor and responsibility between men and women. The woman explains that the “women keep the house and the men work the farms” (p3). As soon as the children are able, they also help out with the tasks designated for their sex (p3).

The woman argues that the “discipline observed in an Amish family would put the average American youngster to the blush” (One day in the life of an Amish Woman p4). In Utopia, More puts great emphasis on the upbringing of children. The Amish, unlike many other communities, are very regulated and specific with the raising of children. This is due to the respect that children give to their parents as well as all elders within the community. In Amish life, showing respect to elders is not encouraged, but demanded (One day in the life of an Amish Woman p4). The Woman shows this through the simple dialogue between a father and son. When the father, Jake, asks his son, Joe, to retrieve some water for their guest, Joe does it without any retort. There was “no disrespect in familiar assent, no lack of reverence for the parental authority” found in the rest of society (One day in the life of an Amish Woman p3). This creates, in theory, a more well behaved, efficient community. This efficiency is key to any attempt at a utopian society. Once the children become strong enough or of age, they are put into employment so that they too, can benefit the community (One day in the life of an Amish Woman p3).

When reading More’s description of Utopia’s location and the rocky waters that surround the island, it becomes obvious that these Utopians live in near-complete isolation from the rest of society. Likewise, the Amish live in almost complete seclusion from the outside world. The Amish generally only interact with family members, fellow mennonites, or neighbors (One day in the life of an Amish Woman p5). Aside from a short period of teenage life, the Amish rarely leave their farm communities. Their isolationist tendencies can best be exemplified as “Tradition is sacred; something new or different is of the devil” (Wittmer p2). This seclusion from society is meant to keep the Amish lifestyle uncorrupted.

More, while explaining the Utopian lifestyle also stresses a community-advancing mindset. Instead of looking to better oneself, More believes everyone should be looking to better the community. This ideal can be seen in the “care for your own” mentality that the Amish live by. They are forbidden from suing each other as well as any form of violence (One day in the life of an Amish Woman p2).  The Amish take it a step further and actively seek to help by communally sharing farm tools, horses, and household items. Their religious affiliation also plays a major role in Amish life. In a sense, by bettering their community, the Amish feel that they are bettering their faith.

The strong emphasis the Amish put on equality, efficiency, seclusion and bettering the community parallels the values of any ideal utopian society and more specifically the island of Utopia described by Thomas More. The Amish approach to life, although not utopian in entirety, displays significantly more similarities to a utopian society than that of the rest of America. Their simplistic way of life allows them to behave and act primarily as a community.

 

Works Cited

“One Day in the Life of an Amish Woman.” The Independent … Devoted to the Consideration of Politics, Social and Economic Tendencies,, 1903. Accessed November 10, 2015. ProQuest.

Wittmer, Joe, and Arnold Moser. “Counseling the Old Order Amish Child.” Elementary School Guidance and Counseling 8, no. 4 (1974). Accessed November 23, 2015. Jstor.org.