Sir Thomas More Utopia Essay
Following the sixteenth-century, an awareness of European society’s ills started to form. As a result, it was common for individuals to develop paradisiacal ideologies that aimed to improved and reform the corrupt establishment; in some cases, these ideologies went on to become economic systems. The first among these thinkers to conceive a paradise free of corruption was Sir Thomas More. In his 1516 book, Utopia, More aims to illuminate and eradicate the socio-political corruptions in Europe by creating a more reformed society. Though his community is isolated from the rest of the world, scholars govern More’s Utopia; creating a place where food is plentiful, labor is universal (abolishing the division if social classes), and camaraderie, rather
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than competition, is advocated. Thus, it becomes manifest that More’s paradise severs as an ideal place to live since his civilization focuses solely on compassion. That is to say, Utopia is humanity-orientated society that promotes: the access to knowledge (which is available to all), compassion for the Utopian neighbor, as well as the freedom of religion.
Unlike England in the fifteen hundreds, More’s Utopia abolishes social classes, as well as genderization, therefore granting educational access to the whole public.
England’s academic laws during the period (such as, for example, sons of peasants who could only receive education should the lord of the manor permit it) excluded women the right to an education and harshly oppressed poverty-stricken families, reserving academic institutions for rich males for the most part. Furthermore, any lower-class “family caught having a son educated without permission was heavily fined” (“Medieval Education”). Aware of England’s academic oppression, More’s Utopia provides “every child [with] an introduction to good literature, and throughout their lives a large part of the people, men and women alike, spend their leisure time in reading” (613-614). More’s paradisiacal vision involves the acquisition of higher learning by both genders, which ultimately illustrates that this society values knowledge of the self and more, rather than the material-based society sixteenth century England depicts. Thus, More is seen as acknowledging human wealth higher than material wealth. Moreover, the influence of the Utopian educational system has created a society where good judgment is practice. In other words, all the people of the community practice good morality by choosing to read on their free
time.
Though overall, it seems like More is concerned with the morality of the communities in Europe and as a result, asserts in his vision that the generosity among Utopian neighbors occurs naturally due to the compassion that exists on the idyllic island. Similarly, More sees a connection between Europe in the sixteenth century and Plato’s foresight in, The Republic. Plato explains to Socrates that the abolition of private families is just since they pose the danger of disunity. That is to say, families that seclude themselves in separate homes produce individuals who are self-centered and more concerned about their immediate family than the community as a whole. The citizens of England, during this era, have lost a sense of neighbor camaraderie, which slowly contributes to the loss of the individual’s humanity. Thus, More makes sure to add that the districts in his paradise will donate food to one another without any obligation to receive something in exchange. Basically, “these are outright gifts…they [the districts] give freely to one city, asking nothing in return, they get freely from another to which they gave nothing; and thus the whole island is like a single family” (610). Regardless the era or country, the general population of most commonwealths will donate items with the notion that the action will be reciprocated. Should one not expect any type of reciprocity, they donate in order to satisfy their religious morality rather their own. More specially, the non-Utopian will display an act of kindness hoping that it will grant them the acceptance of their religious divinity, instead out of genuine compassion for another human.
In addition to religion, More responds to the religious subjugation of Europe in the fifteen hundreds by envisioning that no one religion shall reign supreme; all throughout history, dominant religions have been known for producing man’s own inhumanities. During the sixteenth century rule of the Holy Roman Empire, Germans sought to escape the hegemony of the Catholic Church. As the Church and the power of the popes increased thus began the taxation, as well as payments to support clergymen, on many German principalities. Few people spoke out against the Roman Catholic Church in fear of being excommunicated. The Catholic Church’s political construction influenced More’s paradisiacal vision to find a solution to douse the flames between religions. In More’s visualization, General Utopus, the founder of Utopia is described as, “in matters of religion…not at all quick to dogmatize, because he suspected that God perhaps likes diverse and manifold forms of worship and has therefore deliberately inspired different people with different views” (636). More’s society aims to serve the individual. Should one choose to believe or not believe in a deity is completely up to them, however, most Utopians have developed monotheistic ideologies, although each member of the community has very different conceptions of the nature of that god. More importantly, More’s description of General Utopus really shows how deeply-rooted the idea of humanity, or compassion, is in his island, as God is seen a considerate towards the citizens different beliefs, whereas one would be labeled a blasphemer in the eyes of the Church should they believe Christ to fit a different physical description.
Thus, a free educational system, the togetherness of a community as a whole, and the right to follow any religion, all become quintessential guidelines towards a more humanity-based society, a society one recognizes as the ideal place to live, as depicted in More’s Utopia. Appropriately, More’s book has influenced a great many attempts to recreate a Utopia, e.g., Walt Disney’s Disneyland and Disneyworld. Autonomous spaces such as More’s and Disney’s serve as a reminder to citizens of all commonwealths that they can reconstruct and improve their communities should humans feel disconnected with their selves those around them.
than competition, is advocated. Thus, it becomes manifest that More’s paradise severs as an ideal place to live since his civilization focuses solely on compassion. That is to say, Utopia is humanity-orientated society that promotes: the access to knowledge (which is available to all), compassion for the Utopian neighbor, as well as the freedom of religion.
Unlike England in the fifteen hundreds, More’s Utopia abolishes social classes, as well as genderization, therefore granting educational access to the whole public.
England’s academic laws during the period (such as, for example, sons of peasants who could only receive education should the lord of the manor permit it) excluded women the right to an education and harshly oppressed poverty-stricken families, reserving academic institutions for rich males for the most part. Furthermore, any lower-class “family caught having a son educated without permission was heavily fined” (“Medieval Education”). Aware of England’s academic oppression, More’s Utopia provides “every child [with] an introduction to good literature, and throughout their lives a large part of the people, men and women alike, spend their leisure time in reading” (613-614). More’s paradisiacal vision involves the acquisition of higher learning by both genders, which ultimately illustrates that this society values knowledge of the self and more, rather than the material-based society sixteenth century England depicts. Thus, More is seen as acknowledging human wealth higher than material wealth. Moreover, the influence of the Utopian educational system has created a society where good judgment is practice. In other words, all the people of the community practice good morality by choosing to read on their free
time.
Though overall, it seems like More is concerned with the morality of the communities in Europe and as a result, asserts in his vision that the generosity among Utopian neighbors occurs naturally due to the compassion that exists on the idyllic island. Similarly, More sees a connection between Europe in the sixteenth century and Plato’s foresight in, The Republic. Plato explains to Socrates that the abolition of private families is just since they pose the danger of disunity. That is to say, families that seclude themselves in separate homes produce individuals who are self-centered and more concerned about their immediate family than the community as a whole. The citizens of England, during this era, have lost a sense of neighbor camaraderie, which slowly contributes to the loss of the individual’s humanity. Thus, More makes sure to add that the districts in his paradise will donate food to one another without any obligation to receive something in exchange. Basically, “these are outright gifts…they [the districts] give freely to one city, asking nothing in return, they get freely from another to which they gave nothing; and thus the whole island is like a single family” (610). Regardless the era or country, the general population of most commonwealths will donate items with the notion that the action will be reciprocated. Should one not expect any type of reciprocity, they donate in order to satisfy their religious morality rather their own. More specially, the non-Utopian will display an act of kindness hoping that it will grant them the acceptance of their religious divinity, instead out of genuine compassion for another human.
In addition to religion, More responds to the religious subjugation of Europe in the fifteen hundreds by envisioning that no one religion shall reign supreme; all throughout history, dominant religions have been known for producing man’s own inhumanities. During the sixteenth century rule of the Holy Roman Empire, Germans sought to escape the hegemony of the Catholic Church. As the Church and the power of the popes increased thus began the taxation, as well as payments to support clergymen, on many German principalities. Few people spoke out against the Roman Catholic Church in fear of being excommunicated. The Catholic Church’s political construction influenced More’s paradisiacal vision to find a solution to douse the flames between religions. In More’s visualization, General Utopus, the founder of Utopia is described as, “in matters of religion…not at all quick to dogmatize, because he suspected that God perhaps likes diverse and manifold forms of worship and has therefore deliberately inspired different people with different views” (636). More’s society aims to serve the individual. Should one choose to believe or not believe in a deity is completely up to them, however, most Utopians have developed monotheistic ideologies, although each member of the community has very different conceptions of the nature of that god. More importantly, More’s description of General Utopus really shows how deeply-rooted the idea of humanity, or compassion, is in his island, as God is seen a considerate towards the citizens different beliefs, whereas one would be labeled a blasphemer in the eyes of the Church should they believe Christ to fit a different physical description.
Thus, a free educational system, the togetherness of a community as a whole, and the right to follow any religion, all become quintessential guidelines towards a more humanity-based society, a society one recognizes as the ideal place to live, as depicted in More’s Utopia. Appropriately, More’s book has influenced a great many attempts to recreate a Utopia, e.g., Walt Disney’s Disneyland and Disneyworld. Autonomous spaces such as More’s and Disney’s serve as a reminder to citizens of all commonwealths that they can reconstruct and improve their communities should humans feel disconnected with their selves those around them.