![]() To understand More’s arguments, it’s crucial to set some context about contemporary political debates which arose alongside the Renaissance. The work, whose full title translates to ‘On the best state of a commonwealth and the new island of Utopia’, coined the term Utopia, which has a twofold meaning. It combines the Greek word ‘ou’ (not) with ‘topos’ (place) – ‘Utopia’ thus means ‘no place’. However, it also puns on the Greek word ‘eutopia’, meaning a ‘happy or fortunate place.’ This very title sets the satirical, ambiguous tone of the work – is Hythloday’s enthusiasm for Utopian customs meant to be sincere, or is More deliberately leaving us with an ambivalent, puzzled view of Utopian life? While there are several facets to the social, political and religious customs of the Utopians which validate either side of this debate, I shall concentrate on More’s startlingly modern, radical assessment of private wealth as the root of social evils. More ends by saying that he has many remaining questions, but they can wait for Hythloday to chill out.Thomas More (1478-1535) is best known for Utopia, a work of socio-political satire published in 1516. It is split into two books: Book 1, Dialogue of Counsel, constitutes a debate between the traveller Raphael Hythloday, a fictional version of More, and his associates regarding the modern social problems in Europe and how to advise monarchs. In Book 2, Discourse on Utopia, Hythloday relates his experience living in the island of Utopia (located somewhere in the New World) for 5 years, arguing that Utopia alone achieved the ‘best state of a commonwealth’ through their institutions and social customs. Once he finishes, Hythloday says that he thinks the island is the absolute best, but More and Giles seem less-than-convinced. Hythloday essentially describes, topic-by-topic, various characteristics of this new island: geography, history, cities, houses, government, farming, other jobs, down time, lack of money, outfits, families and households, lack of private property, food, dining, conversation, travel, trade, wealth, education, religion, visitors, slavery, laws, war, holidays… phew. He ends by just randomly mentioning this place called Utopia, that he thinks rocks, and Giles and More beg him to say more.Īfter taking a little lunch break, our eager trio returns in Book 2 to chat about Utopia. Giles and More say it totally is, whereas Hythloday insists that politics and philosophy are irreconcilable. ![]() ![]() Hythloday is a great traveler and has all sorts of controversial opinions, so the three of them head over to Giles's garden to have an intense chat about whether or not it's possible for philosophy to influence politics. In Book 1, Thomas More (not only the author, but also a main character) arrives in Antwerp on a business trip where he runs into an old friend, Peter Giles and meets a new friend, Raphael Hythloday. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |