Utopia-Thomas More

1. The last great Christian synthesis of the Renaissance

1.1. The Chrisitan 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. Property Division and How it affects the society

2.1. No private ownership.

2.2. Things are stored in a warehouse, objects have to be requested from there.

3. Government

3.1. Each town has a mayor elected form Bencheaters.

3.2. Welfare state with free hospitals.

3.3. Law but no lawyers.

4. Happiness

4.1. Priests were allowed to marry.

4.2. Euthanasia permissible by state.

4.3. Religious freedom.

5. Overview

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

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

5.3. Utopia offers a Christianized form of Plato's Republic.

6. Humor and Parody

6.1. Utopia means "nowhere"

6.2. The community political system is called a sty.

7. Working Life

7.1. Both women and men work.

7.2. Must work with agriculture as well as an additional other trade.

7.3. No dressmaking.

7.4. Everyone required to work a minimum six hours a day.

8. Slavery

8.1. Every household has two slaves.

8.2. Slaves are either criminals or are from other countries.

8.3. Can be released with good behavior.

9. Social Critique of Great Britain

9.1. Allow freedom of religion.

9.2. Everyone is allowed the same opportunity with education.

9.3. Laws are simple enough for everyone to have their own understanding of them.