Utopian socialist etienne cabet in his utopian book the voyage to icaria cited definition from contemporary dictionary of ethical and. Aug 28, 2011 this is what thomas more says in the first book of utopia. Utopia definition and meaning collins english dictionary. It seems to me that where private properties exist, where all men measure all things. Is it a mirror for princes for henry viii, corresponding to the institutio principis christiani which erasmus wrote. Hence utopian and utopianism are words used to denote visionary reform that tends to be impossibly idealistic literary utopias mores utopia. His humanist philosophy was influenced by his wide reading from scripture, the church fathers, classical literature, and the new learning. Utopia definition, an imaginary island described in sir thomas more s utopia 1516 as enjoying perfection in law, politics, etc. Information and translations of utopia in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. A summary of education, science, philosophy in sir thomas mores utopia. A new universal etymological, technological, and pronouncing dictionary of the english language, embracing all the terms used in science, literature and art. The problem of freedom and moral behavior in thomas mores utopia. Not many lord chancellors of england have denounced private property, advocated a form of.
Thomas mores use of dialogue in utopia is not only practical but masterly laid out as well. The order and dignity of such a state provided a notable contrast with the unreasonable polity of christian europe, divided by selfinterest and greed for power and riches, which more described in book i, written in england in 1516. Sir thomas mores utopia explained with chapter summaries in just a few minutes. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Utopia simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. His humanist philosophy was influenced by his wide reading from scripture, the church fathers, classical literature, and the new learning of the renaissance, as well as by his friendship with the noted philosopher and scholar desiderius erasmus. Mores book imagines a complex, selfcontained community set on an island, in which people share a common culture and way of life. Thomas more definition of thomas more by the free dictionary.
Depending on the greek roots used, utopia can either mean no place or good place. In the nearly500 years since its publication, thomas mores utopia has. The radical christianity of thomas mores utopia the. More versions for more platforms are likely to be introduced in the future. Sir thomas more invented the word for his 1516 book utopia. And remember, when he was writing utopia, christianity was the accepted and standard religious code, so he would have expect his readers to all believe in the christian god, too. In the nearly500 years since its publication, thomas mores utopia has influenced everything from the thinking of gandhi to the tech giants of silicon valley, writes tom hodgkinson. However, evidence throughout the novel suggests that more did intend utopia to be the best state of the commonwealth. The book was about a fictional island in the atlantic ocean. More coined the word utopia a name he gave to the ideal and imaginary.
The word has been used to describe both a perfect society, and societies in literature. The term was taken from thomas mores novel utopia, published in 1551, where he depicted an ideal society based on equalism, economic and political prosperity and where poverty and misery were eradicated. Many utopias are satires that ridicule existent conditions rather than offering practical solutions for them. Thomas mores utopia, a book that will be 500 years old next year.
The word first occurred in sir thomas mores utopia, published in latin as libellusde optimo reipublicae statu, deque nova insula utopia 1516. Utopia article about utopia by the free dictionary. The fictional characters of the book, however, should not be considered to be direct translations of these historic personalities to the page. Utopia is thomas more s response to platos the republic. A more satisfactory label for this philosophy might be naturalism. Like platos republic, mores utopia is the creation of a wellmeaning. In utopia, more introduces the ideal society through a fictitious state of the same name of which location is unclear. Hence utopian and utopianism are words used to denote visionary reform that tends to be impossibly idealistic. Sir thomas more 1477 1535 was the first person to write of a utopia, a word used to describe a perfect imaginary world.
Concerning the highest state of the republic and the new island utopia. The word utopia was made up from greek roots by sir thomas more. The word utopia was coined from ancient greek by sir thomas more in 1516. Thomas more is known for his 1516 book utopia and for his untimely death in 1535, after refusing to acknowledge king henry viii as head of the church of. Utopia, an ideal commonwealth whose inhabitants exist under seemingly perfect conditions. Thomas more english humanist, contemporary of erasmus, and author of utopia, in which he condemned governments as corrupt, and private property. Born in london, the son of a prominent judge, thomas more was educated at oxford and lincolns inn, where he studied law. Definition of utopia noun from the oxford advanced learners dictionary. On the titlepage of utopia thomas more identifies himself as a citizen. In this class are jonathan swifts gullivers travels 1726 and samuel butlers erewhon 1872. But this was a pun the almost identical greek word eutopos means a good place. In 1516, sir thomas more, an english scholar, writer, and lawyer, published his literary work, utopia, which was a book that explored the notion of a perfect and imaginary society.
Utopia is an ideal or envisioned place of perfection. The characters of more, giles, and morton all correspond in biographical background to actual historical people, sir thomas more author of utopia, the humanist thinker peter giles, and former chancellor of england cardinal john morton. This is what thomas more says in the first book of utopia. Utopia is a name for an imaginary community or society with a perfect system of laws and politics. However, in standard usage, the words meaning has shifted and now usually describes a nonexistent society. Course hero literature instructor russell jaffe provides. Utopia is derived from the greek prefix ou, meaning not, and topos, place, with the suffix ia that is typical of toponyms.
The first, called book one, describes the english society of the fifteenth century with such perfection that it shows many complex. So at the very heart of the word is a vital question. Oct 06, 2016 in the nearly500 years since its publication, thomas mores utopia has influenced everything from the thinking of gandhi to the tech giants of silicon valley, writes tom hodgkinson. An impractical, idealistic scheme for social and political reform. Word origin from the title of a book by sir thomas more, which describes a place like this. May 21, 2015 born in london, the son of a prominent judge, thomas more was educated at oxford and lincolns inn, where he studied law. It is a text that instructs us how to approach texts, be they literary or political, in an open manner. The word first occurred in sir thomas mores utopia, published in latin as libellusde optimo reipublicae statu, deque nova insula utopia.
The fictional characters of the book, however, should not be considered to be direct translations of. Oct 16, 2015 thomas mores utopia, a book that will be 500 years old next year, is astonishingly radical stuff. More s utopia is inspired by platos republic, which is considered the first utopian novel. He received a latin education in the household of cardinal morton and at oxford. See utopia, in the dictionary of noted names in fiction. New latin utopia, imaginary island in utopia by sir thomas more. Utopia definition, an imaginary island described in sir thomas mores utopia 1516 as enjoying perfection in law, politics, etc.
The term was taken from thomas more s novel utopia, published in 1551, where he depicted an ideal society based on equalism, economic and political prosperity and where poverty and misery were eradicated. Information and translations of thomas more in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Sir thomas more 7 february 1478 6 july 1535, venerated in the catholic church as saint thomas more, was an english lawyer, social philosopher, author, statesman, and noted renaissance humanist. Thomas mores utopia is a work of ambiguous dualities that forces the reader to question mores real view on the concept of a utopian society. Thomas mores utopia, a book that will be 500 years old next year, is astonishingly radical stuff.
Thomas mores utopia is more than the story of a faroff land where there is no private property. Sir thomas more 1477 1535 was the first person to write of a utopia. Mores utopia is inspired by platos republic, which is considered the first utopian novel. A related idea is dystopia there have been many utopias based on politics, economics. Thomas more english statesman who opposed henry viiis divorce from catherine of aragon and was imprisoned and beheaded.
Utopia is a work of fiction and sociopolitical satire by thomas more 14781535, written in. More came up with utopia by combining greek words meaning no place. More s book imagines a complex, selfcontained community set on an island, in which people share a common culture and way of life. Mores utopia describes a pagan and communist citystate in which the institutions and policies are entirely governed by reason. Jun 27, 2019 thomas more is known for his 1516 book utopia and for his untimely death in 1535, after refusing to acknowledge king henry viii as head of the church of england. The word first appeared in a book written by sir thomas more in the 1500s. Thomas more 14781535 from utopia from a dialogue of comfort against tribulation. In the 20th century, when the possibility of a planned society became too imminent, a number of bitterly antiutopian, or dystopian. He wrote utopia, published in 1516, about the political system of an imaginary island state. He was also a chancellor to henry viii, and lord high chancellor of england from october 1529 to may 1532. It seems to me that where private properties exist, where all men measure all things in relation to money, it is hardly possible to establish, in public affairs, a regime at once just and prosperous, unless you esteem it just that the best things belong to the worst persons, or. Utopia is thomas mores response to platos the republic.
In order to elucidate mores true ideas and judgments, an examination of raphael hythloday, the state of utopia, and the dialogue among characters, particularly the characters of. Tune your life to conform to the dictates of nature, which manifests gods plan. The word suggests that, though no ideal community exists, people can create one by working together. From the title of a book by sir thomas more, which describes a place like this. In order to elucidate mores true ideas and judgments, an examination of raphael hythloday, the state of utopia, and the dialogue among characters, particularly the characters of thomas more and hythloday, is necessary. In the nearly500 years since its publication, thomas mores utopia has influenced everything from the thinking of gandhi to the tech giants of. The term utopia was created from greek by sir thomas more for his 1516 book utopia. Thomas more, as you might be aware, was later made a saint by the catholic church after being executed by henry viii. If you refer to an imaginary situation as a utopia, you mean that it is one in which.
Thomas more synonyms, thomas more pronunciation, thomas more translation, english dictionary definition of thomas more. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of utopia and what it means. A utopia is an imagined community or society that possesses highly desirable or nearly perfect. However, since 1980, he is also commemorated by the church of england as a reformation martyr. As the first lay chancellor of england, he was later executed by henry viii when he refused to agree that the king was the supreme head of the english church.
Thomas mores utopia remains one of the most puzzling and paradoxical treatises on the ideal state. More was an englishman, and it might be good to gaze for a moment at the conditions for england in that year in order to gain some perspective on the changes that have since taken place. The corollary to that injunction is to receive joyously those experiences which nature has determined to be both necessary and pleasurable, whether at table or in bed, at a concert, or reading greek. Utopia definition is a place of ideal perfection especially in laws, government, and social conditions. In utopia, every citizen has immediate access to the appropriate specialist for medical consultation. So, you can imagine, he was a pretty religious guy. Thomas more14781535from utopiafrom a dialogue of comfort. In many utopias, including that of sir thomas more and the utopian communities of william lane in paraguay, divine peace and justice would only be achieved by a strong central authority with the power to oversee all aspects of society. Utopia is a name for an imaginary community or society with a perfect system of laws and politics sir thomas more invented the word for his 1516 book utopia. He coined the word utopia from the greek outopos meaning no place or nowhere. Utopia definition what is utopia and what symbolize. Utopia definition of utopia by the free dictionary.