Utopia- Thomas More

1. Christian Synthesis

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

1.2. The Platonic, Republican tradition is the Greek aspect of the synthesis.

1.3. More wrote utopia with a comedic tone, allowing him to speak his truth while telling a deeper story.

2. Over view

2.1. Thomas More's Utopia is a Christian humanist view of an ideal society.

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

2.3. Utopia offers a Christianized form of Plato's republic.

3. Humor and Parody

3.1. Utopia means nowhere

3.2. The local political system is called a Sty

4. Finding happiness

4.1. Freedom of religion

4.2. could get a divorce

4.3. no lawyers or laws

4.4. balance between mother nature and people

5. Great Britain

5.1. communistic life style

5.2. shows the value that More placed on simple communal life, reflecting his longing for monastic duties

5.3. Obvious juxtaposition to his city life in London

5.4. Utopia is seen as a satire, jokes and satirical asides such as how honest people are in Europe

6. Property divided in Utopia/Affecting society

6.1. Every household are re-distributed around the household and towns to keep numbers even.

6.2. No private ownership on Utopia

6.3. Goods being stored in warehouses and people requesting what they need.

6.4. No locks on the doors

6.5. Houses are rotated between the citizens every ten years

7. Life in Utopia

7.1. Every person is taught Agriculture

7.2. Must live in the countryside

7.3. Farming

7.4. women doing the same work as men

7.5. Every citizen must learn at least one of the other essential trades: weaving (mainly done by the women), carpentry, metalsmithing and masonry

8. Government in Utopia

8.1. A welfare state with free hospitals

8.2. Euthanasia permissible by the state, priests being allowed to marry

8.3. divorce permitted

8.4. no lawyers

8.5. The law is made deliberately simple

8.6. All should understand it and not leave people in any doubt of what is right and wrong