Sir Thomas More's Utopian Society

In the early sixteenth century, Sir Thomas More began to create his own philosophical thinking and perception on European government and society. More served as a chancellor to King Henry VIII around the time Henry broke from the Catholic Church. The lack of social compassion, security, and sustainability in England pushed More into completing his political satire entitled Utopia in 1516. However, More’s Utopia attempted to shed light on English issues by creating his own description on an ideal state. During this time period, England began to suffer from the consequences of bloody religious battles that raged among Catholics and Protestants. Martin Luther began to lead events that led to the Reformations, in which Europe split definitively on religion. Luther also founded Protestantism around the same time, which rejected the Catholic Church completely. More also criticized many parts of the church, like any other humanist. However, he was still unwilling to fight against the church in fear that lack of religious unity would result in disaster. More responded to this issue of religious violence by creating freedom of religion in the Utopian society. There were no punishments for religious differences in hope to maintain social unity. Utopians believed that war was unjust and unnecessary. “Think that there is nothing more inglorious than that glory that is gained by war” (77-78). To the Utopians, war was only acceptable when in situations that they felt the need to
More’s work was inspired by accounts of Europeans that had begun to travel the lands of the “New World.” More’s ideal state drew attention to the existing social conditions that were happening in England. In 1535, More opposed the action of the king and was executed for treason. However, he is still remembered today for his unique philosophical thinking within the early sixteenth