Utopia - Thomas More

1. Use of Humor or Parody

1.1. Title means nowhere, joking with readers

1.2. Subgroups within utopia are known as styes, pigs live in styes

2. How is property divided

2.1. All property is completely shared, nobody owns anything

2.2. Similar to Communism

3. What was working life like in Utopia?

3.1. Everyone knows how to farm, there are few professions besides that, metalworking, masonry, and carpentry

3.2. Philosophy was reserved for the smartest and brightest, but everyone was encouraged to learn in their free time

4. Why does Utopia use slavery

4.1. As a punishment for offenders

4.2. Chains of Gold make desire for wealth almost nonexistent

5. What is government like in utopia

5.1. Welfare state, legal euthanasia, non-celibate priests, permitted divorce

5.2. Punishment is more severe, to discourage crime

6. Utopia: a social critique of Great Britian

6.1. Because More is a part of the British government, he is making suggestions against the government he works for

6.2. Quiet advice to the british of how they could improve their system

7. Overview

7.1. Utopia is a Christian-Humanist view of an ideal society

7.2. More does not simply offer a theoretical view, but provides specifics for how to create this world

7.3. Utopia offers a Christianized Form of Plato's Republic

8. Utopia - Christian Synthesis

8.1. The Christian aspect of the synthesis is Christ's gospel of caring for the poor, the oppressed, and the downtrodden

8.1.1. New node

8.2. The platonic, Republican tradition is the Greek aspect of the synthesis

8.3. More wrote Utopia witha comedic tone, allowing him to speak his truth while telling a deeper story

9. How do people in utopia find happiness?

9.1. Seeking knowledge on their own, worshiping their own faiths