The City of the Sun

Campanella, Tommaso 1901. The city of the sun. In: Ideal Commonwealths: Comprising More's Utopia, Bacon's New Atlantis, Campanella's City of the Sun, and Harrington's Oceana. With introduction by Henry Morley. London; New York: The Colonial Press, 141-179. [Internet Archive]

Arches run on a level with the middle height of the palaces, and are continued round the whole ring. There are galleries for promenading upon these arches, which are supported from beneath by thick and well-shaped columns, enclosing arcades like peristyles, or cloisters of an abbey. (Campanella 1901: 142)

Fourier, too, desired his Phalanstery to be surrounded by a covered promenade, so as to be able to walk all round the building without getting wet.

The pavement of the temple is bright with precious stones. Its seven golden lamps hang always burning, and these bear the names of the seven planets. (Campanella 1901: 143)

Impracticalities.

The great ruler among them is a priest whom they call by the name Hoh, though we should call him Metaphysic. He is head over all, in temporal and spiritual matters, and all business and lawsuits are settled by him, as the supreme authority. Three princes of equal power - viz., Pon, Sin, and Mor - assist him, and these in our tongue we should call Power, Wisdom, and Love. To Power belongs the care of all matters relating to war and peace. He attends to the military arts, and next to Hoh, he is ruler in every affair of a warlike nature. He governs the military magistrates and the soldiers, and has the management of the munitions, the fortifications, the storming of places, the implements of war, the armories, the smiths and workmen connected with matters of this sort. (Campanella 1901: 144)

A theocracy? The ordeal with the three princes clearli inspired by Plato: "He [Plato] does in fact argue that each of these three interests should be in the professional keeping of separate bodies of men - honour in the keeping of the army, knowledge in that of the ruling elders, production in the hands of craftsmen who may neither fight nor rule" (Stocks 1915: 213). Here, honour is replaced with Power. Also, the princes are named after their offices?

But Wisdom is the ruler of the liberal arts, of mechanics, of all sciences with their magistrates and doctors, and of the discipline of the schools. As many doctors as there are, are under his control. There is one dioctor who is called Astrologus; a second, Cosmographus; a third, Arithmeticus; a fourth, Geometra; a fifth, Historiographus; a sixth, Poeta; a seventh, Logicus; an eight, Rhetor; a ninth, Grammaticus; a tenth, Medicus; an eleventh, Physiologus; a twelfth, Politicus; a thirteenth, Moralis. They have but one book, which they call Wisdom, and in it all the sciences are written with conciseness and marvellous fluency of expression. This they read to the people after the custom of the Pythagoreans. It is Wisdom who causes the exterior and interior, the higher and lower walls of the city to be adorned with the finest pictures, and to have all the sciences painted upon them in an admirable manner. (Campanella 1901: 144)

So many sciences and only one book! How would you paint pictures of rhetoric, grammar, and poetics? What is the custom of reading amongst the Pythagoreans? "It was the custom however with them for the youngest to read, and the eldest ordered what was to be read, and after what manner" (Iamblichus 1818: 53) - so the young read to the old?

On the sixth interior are painted all the mechanical arts, with the several instruments for each and their manner of use among different nations. Alongside, the dignity of such is placed, and their several inventors are named. But on the exterior of all the inventors in science, in warfare, and in law are represented. There I saw Moses, Osiris, Jupiter, Mercury, Lycurgus, Pompilius, Pythagoras, Zamolxis, Solon, Charondas, Phoroneus, with very many others. They even have Mahomet, whom nevertheless they hate as a false and sordid legislator. In the most dignified position I saw a representation of Jesus Christ and of the twelve Apostles, whom they consider very worthy and hold to be great. (Campanella 1901: 146)

Zalmoxis, Pythagoras' mythical Thracian slave, now Zamolxis. Some of these I know very little of: Lycurgus of Sparta was a quasi-segendary lawgiver, Charondas a lawgiver in Sicility, Phoroneus a primordial king of Argos. It seems impossible that there is a Christian nation like this without the rest of the Christian world knowing about them. Uncontacted peoples don't have Covid-19.

And when I asked with astonishment whence they had obtained our history, they told me that among them there was a knowledge of all languages, and that by preservance they continually send explorers and ambassadors over the whole earth, who learn thoroughly the customs, forces, rule and histories of the nations, bad and good alike. (Campanella 1901: 147)

How convenient. They must have been a republic of spies, having gained so much knowledge of the rest of the world without the rest of the world knowing about them. "All languages" very curious - did they record any ancient Estonian in their one book?

Love is foremost in attending to the charge of the race. He sees that men and women are so joined together, that they bring forth the best offspring. Indeed, they laugh at us who exhibit a studious care for our breed of horses and dogs, but neglect the breeding of human beings. Thus the education of the children is under his rule. So also is the medicine that is sold, the sowing and collecting of fruits of the earth and of trees, agriculture, pasturage, the preparations for the months, the cooking arrangements, and whatever has any reference to food, clothing, and the intercourse of the sexes. Love himself is ruler, but there are many male and female magistrates dedicated to these arts. (Campanella 1901: 147)

Eugenics. Plato's "production in the hands of craftsmen" is turned into love, the production of people. Of course it still includes the menial tasks (crafts) Plato ascribed to them. Fourier effectively placed love in secondness, it being a passion of the soul. Here love is placed in firstness, only its bodily aspects (genetics) evidently considered primary.

This race of men came there from India, flying from the sword of the Magi, a race of plunderers and tyrants who laid waste their country, and they determined to lead a philosophic life in fellowship with one another. Although the community of wives is not instituted among the other inhabitants of their province, among them it is in use after this manner: All things are common with them, and their disepensation is by the authority of the magistrates. Arts and honors and pleasures are common, and are held in such a manner that no one can appropriate anything to himself. (Campanella 1901: 147)

The Pythagorean κοινά τά φιλων (all is common between friends). "Philosophic life" also a Pythagorean trope. Why they should come from India, I have no clue - perhaps it was considered sufficiently exotic at that time. Not sure though why people coming from India wouldn't have their own philosophy and religion, and should mix Christianity with Pythagoreanism in this way.

They say that all private property is acquired and improved for the reason that each one of us by himself has his own home and wife and children. From this, self-love springs. For when we raise a son to riches and dignities, and leave an heir to much wealth, we become either ready to grasp at the property of the State, if in any case fear should be removed from the power which belongs to riches and rank; or avaricious, crafty, and hypocritical, if anyone is of slender purse, little strength, and mean ancestry. But when we have taken away self-love, there remains only love for the State. (Campanella 1901: 148)

Somewhat incomprehensible. What I get in the first instance is that they haven't socialized sexuality and progeny, so not quite as utopian as it could be.

Under such circumstances no one will be willing to labor, while he expects others to work, on the fruit of whose labors he can live, as Aristotle argues against Plato. (Campanella 1901: 148)

Either make work attractive, or do away with it altogether. We're currently heading towards the second option with automation.

St. Augustine may say that, but I say that among this race of men, friendship is worth nothing, since they have not the chance of conferring mutual benefits on one another. (Campanella 1901: 148)

This one has a transactional view of friendship, as if people didn't make friends if there was nothing (monetary or material) to be gained from it.

Sometimes they improve themselves mutually with praises, with conversation, with actions, and out of the things they need. All those of the same age call one another brothers. They call all over twenty-two years of age, fathers; those that are less than twenty-two are named sons. (Campanella 1901: 148)

How do they call actual sons and fathers? "My less that twenty-two year-old, go to your room!" - "Yes, my over twenty-two year old."

As many names of virtues as there are among us, so many magistrates there are among them. There is a magistrate who is named Magnanimity, another Fortitude, a third Chastity, a fourth Liberality, a fifth Criminal and Civil Justice, a sixth Comfort, a seventh Truth, an eight Kindness, a tenth Gratitude, an eleventh Cheerfulness, a twelfth Exercise, a thirteenth Sobriety, etc. (Campanella 1901: 149)

"[...] the Name, or Sound, Virtue, is so hard to be understood; liable to so much Uncertainty in its Signification; and the Thing it stands for, so much contended about, and difficult to be known" (Locke 1741a: 41). Evidently not according to Campanella. There are 13 virtues. Just because. What in the world is the virtue of comfort? In a theocracy there is no virtue called Piety.

They are elected to duties of that kind, each one to that duty for excellence in which he is known from boyhood to be most suitable. Wherefore among them neither robbery nor clever murders, nor lewdness, incest, adultery, or other crimes of which we accuse one another, can be found. (Campanella 1901: 149)

The magistrate of sobriety was known for being sober from boyhood. If they had no dealings with alcohol, why would this be an office? These really call out to be reversed in a Fourerian manner; in the ideal society, there'd be a magistrate of sobriety who was the biggest and bestest drunkard of all.

That you may know, then, men and women wear the same kind of garment, suited for war. The women wear the toga below the knee, but the men above; and both sexes are instructed in all the arts together. When this has been done as a start, and before their third year, the boys learn the language and the alphabet on the walls by walking round them. They have four leaders, and four elders, the first to direct them, the second to teach them, and these are men approved beyond all others. (Campanella 1901: 149)

Why would a peaceful nation be dressed for war at all times? Also, togas? On Indian people? Walking round the walls a really inefficient way to learn alphabet, no? By their third year, does he mean 3-year-old children? Or are they first istructed in all the arts and then taught the alphabet? Probably wouldn't need it anyway what with there being one book to read. Also, both sexes are instructed together but the instructors are men only?

Afterward they lead them to the offices of the trades, such as shoemaking, cooking, metal-working, carpentry, painting, etc. In order to find out the bent of the genius of each one, after their seventh year, when they have already gone [|] through the mathematics on the walls, they take them to the readings of all the sciences; there are four lectures at each reading, and in the course of four hours the four in their order explain everything. (Campanella 1901: 149-150)

Fourier started earlier. Little kids can play with miniature tools and find what they'd like to do themselves.

For some take physical exercise or busy themselves with public services or functions, others apply themselves to reading. (Campanella 1901: 150)

All the children in the city crowded around that one book.

Leaving these studies all are devoted to the more abstruse subjects, to mathematics, to medicine, and to other sciences. There are continual debate and studied argument among them, and after a time they become magistrates of those sciences or mechanical arts in which they are the most proficient; [...] (Campanella 1901: 150)

A lot to study and debate over what was written in that one book, or reported from foreign nations (without being published).

They are not allowed to overwork themselves, but frequent practice and the paintings render learning easy to them. Not too much care [|] is given to the cultivation of languages, as they have a goodly number of interpreters who are grammarians in the State. (Campanella 1901: 150-151)

How do they publish those who overwork themselves? Do paintings render learning easier than reading? The sheer amount of paintings necessary to convey the many enumerated sciences would make the learning experience one of toilsome shuffling around before an endless row of paintings. Also, they have "a knowledge of all languages" but not amongst the broader populace, only amongst specially designated workers for the state? (One more point for the spy theory.)

This, moreover, is not unknown to you, that the same argument cannot apply among you, when you consider that man the most learned who knows most of grammar, or logic, or of Aristotle or any other author. For such knowledge as this of yours much servile labor and memory work are required, so that a man is rendered unskilful, since he has contemplated nothing but the words of books and has given his mind with useless result to the consideration of the dead signs of things. Hence he knows not in what way God rules the universe, nor the ways and customs of nature and the nations. Wherefore he is not equal to our Hoh. For that one cannot know so many arts and sciences thoroughly, who is not esteemed for skilled ingenuity, very apt at all things, and therefore at ruling especially. (Campanella 1901: 151)

Ah, yes, too much book-learning renders a person dull and flaccid, unable to deal with the real world. That is why the best leaders and rulers never touch those wicked things called books.

Thus Power is the most learned in the equestrian art, in marshalling the army, in the marking out of camps, in the manufacture of every kind of weapon and of warlike machines, in planning strategems, and in every affair of a military nature. (Campanella 1901: 152)

There's a natural connection between riding horses and building unmanned aerial vehicles.

On one side sit the women, on the other the men; and as in the refectories of the monks, there is no noise. While they are eating a young man reads a book from [|] a platform, intoning distinctly and sonorously, and often the magistrates question them upon the more important parts of the reading. (Campanella 1901: 153-154)

They must have dinners at separate times at each refractory for that one book to get passed around this way. Also, imagine having to answer questions about what's being read to you while you're eating.

They wash their bodies often, according as the doctor and master command. (Campanella 1901: 155)

Of course I'm going to wash myself, as soon as I am given the command.

They deny what we hold - viz., that it is natural to man to recognize his offspring and to educate them, and to use his wife and house and children as his own. For they say that children are bred for the preservation of the species and not for individual pleasure, as St. Thomas also asserts. Therefore the breeding of children has reference to the commonwealth, and not to individuals, except in so far as they are constituents of the commonwealth. And since individuals for the most part bring forth children wrongly and educate them wrongly, they consider that they remove destruction from the State, and therefore for this reason, with most sacred fear, they commit the education of the children, who, as it were, are the elemnet of the republic, to the care of magistrates; for the safety of the community is not that of a few. (Campanella 1901: 156)

Pythagoras on the other hand reportedly said that people should beget children so that there'd be someone after them to worship the Gods. Therefore the breeding of children has reference to the Gods, and they are really God's children.

When the women are exercised they get a clear complexion, and become strong of limb, tall and agile, and with them beauty consists in tallness and strength. Therefore, if any woman dyes her face, so that it may become beautiful, or uses high-heeled boots so that she may appear tall, or garments with trains to cover her wooden shoes, she is condemned to capital punishment. (Campanella 1901: 157)

Wearing high heels and make-up will you get you deaded in this ideal society.

They say, moreover, that grinding poverty renders men worthless, cunning, sulky, thievish, insidious, vagabonds, liars, false witnesses, etc.; and that wealth makes them insolent, proud, ignorant, traitors, assumers of what they know not, deceivers, boasters, wanting in affection, slanderers, etc. (Campanella 1901: 158)

No doubt grinding poverty does that, for extreme want is by no means ennobling, but the description of what wealth does reads like the description of the current U.S. president, with not a single trait excepted.

The inhabitants of the City of the Sun do not fear death, because the yall believe that the soul is immortal, and that when it has left the body it is associated with other spirits, wicked or good, according to the merits of this present life. Although they are partly followers of Brahma and Pythagoras, they do not believe in the transmigration of souls, except in some cases by a distinct decree of God. (Campanella 1901: 160)

In this Campanella cannot be faulted, they considered the connection between Pythagoras and India a serious one up to the end of the 19th century. See Pythagoras' palingenesis.

Wherefore the State often makes war upon these because, being neighbours, they are usurpers and live impiously, since they have not an object of worship and do not observe the religion of other nations or of the Brahmins. (Campanella 1901: 161)

Truly, a perfect society would engage in wars with its neighbours for no god damn reason.

But this exemption from work is by no means pleasing to them, since they know not what it is to be at leisure, and so they help their companions. (Campanella 1901: 164)

Read the book.

But he who did not bear help to an ally or friend is beaten with rods. That one who did not obey orders is given to the beasts, in an enclosure, to be devoured, and a staff is put in his hand, and if he should conquer the lions and the bears that are there, which is almost impossible, he is received into favor again. (Campanella 1901: 164)

Disobedient man capable of killing bears and lions accepted in society. Makes all the sense.

They navigate for the sake of becoming acquainted with nations and different countries and things. They injure nobody, and they do not put up with injury, and they never go to battle unless when provoked. They assert that the whole earth will in time come to live in accordance with their customs, and consequently they always find out whether there be a nation whose manner of living is better and more approved than the rest. (Campanella 1901: 168)

Yet earlier it turned out that their neighbours being irreligious is sufficient provocation for battle.

The old people use the more digestible kind of food, and take three meals a day, eating only a little. But the general community eat twice, and the boys four times, that they may satisfy nature. The length of their lives is generally 100 years, but often they reach 200. (Campanella 1901: 169)

Doubt.

As regards drinking, they are extremely moderate. Wine is never given to young people until they are ten years old, unless the state of their health demands it. After their tenth year they take it diluted with water, and so do the women, but the old men of fifty and upward use little or no water. (Campanella 1901: 169)

It is no wonder that a magistrate of sobriety is necessary.

Among them there is never gout in the hands or feet, nor catarrh, nor sciatica, nor grievous colics, nor flatulency, nor hard breathing. For these diseases are caused by indigestion and flatulency, and by frugality and exercise they remove every humor and spasm. (Campanella 1901: 169)

These people don't even fart. Sciatica caused by flatulence not good medicine.

Unclean diseases cannot be prevalent with them [|] because they often clean their bodies by bathing in wine, and soothe them with aromatic oil, and by the sweat of exercise they diffuse the poisonous vapor which corrupts the blood and the marrow. (Campanella 1901: 169-170)

What a waste of wine. Human skin doesn't even absorb the polyphenol compounds in wine.

Then the sacred magistrates themselves confess their own sinfulness to the three supreme chiefs, and together they confess the faults of one another, though no special one is named, and they confess especially the heavier faults and those harmful to the State. (Campanella 1901: 174)

And new they're catholics.

No one can exercise the function of a poet who invents that which is not true, and a license like this they think to be a pest of our world, for the reason that it puts a premium upon virtue and often assigns it to unworthy persons, either from fear or flattery, or ambition, or avarice. (Campanella 1901: 177)

What tedious, descriptive poetry they must have.

The sun and the stars they, so to speak, regard as the living representatives and signs of God, as the temples and holy living altars, and they honor but do not worship them. Beyond all other things they venerate the sun, but they consider no created thing worthy the adoration of worship. (Campanella 1901: 178)

The Isles of the Blessed.

They assert two principles of the physics of things below, namely, that the sun is the father, and the earth the mother; the air is an impure part of the heavens; all fire is derived from the sun. The sea is the sweat of earth, or the fluid of earth combusted, and fused within its bowels, but is the bond of union between air and earth, as the blood is of the spirit and flesh of animals. The world is a great animal, and we live within it as worms live within us. (Campanella 1901: 178)

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