Utopia, a connotation between the Greek word eutopia, which means “happy place”, and utopia which means literally “nowhere”, is a term used by Thomas More to describe the ideal society. More directly contradicts most common policies and beliefs of sixteenth century Europe with his own views which are obviously influenced by humanism. More’s society based on the practices of tolerance, equality, and reason portrayed a life many would embrace as was made apparent with the appearance of communism in later centuries. The perfect society depicted in Thomas More’s UTOPIA uses reason alone in political, religious practices, and in society.
The Utopian political structure is very radical compared to all systems in Europe during More’s life in that it was democratic in nature. Decisions were made to benefit the entire Utopian society. Financial superiority was not a factor considering Utopia had no form of money. Value was placed on human life rather than on possessions. In book one of UTOPIA, More includes a dialogue between the radical idealist Hythloday and a lawyer while in the home of a cardinal. While the lawyer praises English laws for the hanging of thieves, Hythloday responds “theft alone is not a grave offense that ought to be punished with death,” which displays the Utopian belief of the higher value of human life than that of material possessions (Jones 3). Further does More attack European politics with Hythloday’s reference to Plato that king’s will not accept advise of philosophers to put the welfare of their state ahead of capital gain which may be attained by war. More also discusses Utopia’s value of life when policies are decided as when the state must make war. Utopia values its citizens’ lives so greatly that only as a last resort will it put its own people at risk. The humanist ideas of the value of life is clear in Utopian politics as well as reason, which is also the primary creator of Utopian religious principles.
Religion in Utopia is innovatively tolerant and is kept simple. Citizens are only required to accept three principles which are as follows: Every human soul is immortal; after death there is a state of rewards and punishments; the world is guided by divine providence (Marius 172). With the basic principles of Utopian religion being so simple, More illustrates how accepting the people are of Christianity when Hythloday tells them about it. In Europe during the sixteenth century, religion was being heavily debated where it concerned the mortality of the soul. More’s beliefs were made clear in his work that no civilization could survive if no one believed in punishment after life for crimes committed in the present (Marius 173). As well as ideas concerning the soul, Utopians based religion on their own virtuous perceptions from natural intuition as well as the belief that no person should be compelled to religion by violence. More wrote UTOPIA in the same period of religious persecution as the Spanish inquisition, and was radical in his own views, but did not wish violence against other religions. While reason was very important in Utopian religion it also played a large factor in the design of Utopian society.
The Utopian society illustrated by Thomas More is profoundly odd as compared to
European nations at that time. Using many ideas from The Republic written by Plato. More constructs a perfectly oiled, well-working machine in the communist democracy of Utopia. There are fifty-four Utopian city-states which are all identical in language, traditions, customs, and laws; Rural districts are operated by farmers for two year shifts (Jones 60). Nothing in Utopia is privately owned and houses are exchanged every ten years so no Utopian has better accommodations (Jones 60). The Utopian social hierarchy is basically non-existent except for of course the honoring of elders in all practices. One example of honoring elders is shown in More’s description of dinner where young people, if able, serve dinner, first to the eldest people and then to the rest. “Thus respect for elders is maintained and yet everyone has the same advantage from it,” say Hythloday. Utopians are all greatly controlled in the things they can and cannot do so that the communist design of their society is made very apparent. Democratic in the nature, no major governing decisions are made without being first presented to the districts; Utopia stresses communist principles. All Utopian land is publicly owned and all citizens are required to perform labor (with very few exceptions) as well as rule of bureaucrats. Slavery is a punishment for crimes in or against the Utopian commonwealth. Punishment is seen as necessary to maintain social stability (Rice 6). The Utopian government also restricts movement of citizens outside their own cities and controls sex and the family. UTOPIA is an expression of More’s view on a well-constructed society built with reason and logical thinking like every other aspect of the Utopian state.
The Utopian way of life, built on the principles of humanism, reflects the mood of the Renaissance using logical thinking and clear reasoning. Thomas More criticized almost every aspect of European society as a call for the reformation of traditional ways to those which reflected that human life is the most valuable possession of all. The Utopian social structure can hardly be called a hierarchy in that although there are leaders in political status, there are no different classes of people. The political, social and religious structures are constructed solely to benefit all Utopians. Clearly the society in UTOPIA was created by Thomas More as an ideal alternative to sixteenth century Europe
Sources:
Jones, Judith P. Thomas More. Boston: Twayne Publishers : 1979.
Marius, Richard. Thomas More : A Biography. New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1985.
Rice, Edward. Marx, Engels, and Workers of the World. New York : Four Winds Press, 1977.
