What is noted as absent in Houyhnhnm culture?

In the culture of the Houyhnhnms, a race of intelligent horses in Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels," the concept of lying is notably absent. This absence is significant because it highlights the fundamental values and societal norms of Houyhnhnm society, which are based on truthfulness, reason, and rationality. The Houyhnhnms communicate openly and sincerely, and their society operates without deceit, which stands in stark contrast to the human world that Gulliver comes from, where dishonesty and manipulation are prevalent.

The culture that prioritizes honesty demonstrates a harmonious existence devoid of the moral complexities that arise when communication is tainted by untruths. This absence of lying contributes to their overall sense of peace and rational governance. In this context, the focus on truth reinforces the idealized nature of the Houyhnhnms and serves as a critique of human society, which Swift often portrays as corrupted by falsehood and deceit.

Other aspects such as happiness, conflict, and education may exist in different forms or degrees within the narrative, but the defining characteristic that sets the Houyhnhnms apart is their complete lack of lying, making it a central theme in understanding their society and its values.