First book
“Utopia” by Thomas More, a summary of which you are now reading, begins with a kind of introduction. Thomas More writes a letter to his friend Peter Aegidius, in which he asks him to read his work and tell him if any important details are missing.
The narration is conducted on behalf of the author himself. He comes to Flanders as an ambassador to meet with Peter. There he meets the experienced navigator Raphael, who has just returned from another journey.
Raphael knows many customs and laws that exist in other countries. He talks about those that, in his opinion, could be applied in a European state. Peter advises the navigator to apply his knowledge by getting a job as an adviser to the sovereign. But Rafail is categorically against it. He believes that the kings pay too much attention to military affairs, trying to acquire new lands, instead of taking care of the existing ones.
At the same time, those advisers that they have, as a rule, support the ruler, so as not to lose their name and fall out of favor. Raphael categorically condemns the war, considering it absolutely senseless. He is outraged that murder and petty theft are punished equally - a person can be sent to the scaffold. At the same time, moneybags blissfully live in luxury, while ordinary people work hard and become beggars, and this contributes to the development of crime.
Political activity
In 1504, Thomas was elected to the English Parliament. Having started his working career here, More immediately advocated reducing tax revenues in favor of the treasury of the English king Henry VII.
Revenge followed - the king arrested and imprisoned Thomas More's father. Release followed only after Thomas withdrew from public activities and paid a significant ransom for his parent.
In 1509, Henry VII died and More returned to politics. And already in the next 1510 he was appointed undersheriff of London. Everyone admired his eloquence, honesty and justice. Thomas was immediately noticed by King Henry VIII, who came to power, especially since More sang him in his elegant Latin poems. In 1515, the ruler appointed Thomas as ambassador to Flanders to negotiate the trade in English wool.
In 1517, More helped to pacify London when the people rebelled against foreigners.
In 1518, Thomas was elected to the most respected body of the British kingdom - the Privy Council.
In 1520, near the city of Calais, a meeting between Henry VIII and the French king Francis I took place; Thomas More was part of the retinue of the ruler of England.
In 1521, Thomas received the honorary prefix “Sir” to his name and was knighted for his services to the country and the king.
In 1529, for the first time in English history, a person from a bourgeois background was appointed to the post of Lord Chancellor; on the recommendation of the king, he became Thomas More. "Utopia"
During a trip to Flanders, Thomas began work on the first part of his most famous work, Utopia. He completed it when he returned home.
This work consists of two parts, which are not very similar in content, but logically inseparable from each other. Here the author shared his views on how imperfect the political and social systems are. Thomas ridiculed debauchery and spiritual parasitism, criticized the death penalty and bloody laws on workers. Here he proposed a program of reforms that could help change the situation.
The second part of “Utopia” is, in essence, the humanistic teaching of Thomas More. His main ideas:
- Complete equality and democracy, despite the presence of a king.
- The head of state is, first of all, a wise monarch.
- Products are distributed only according to needs.
- Exploitation and private ownership should be replaced by social production.
- Money should only be used when trading with other countries.
- Work is obligatory for everyone, but it should not be exhausting.
How to become a successful state?
In “Utopia” by Thomas More, a summary of which is in front of you, it is noted that every state strives to have a strong army and an unlimited amount of gold reserves, which are necessary to maintain troops. The aggressors need war only to give soldiers experience in combat.
Raphael behaves like a true philosopher, noting that he always wants to speak only the truth, so he prefers to abstain from government affairs. At the same time, the navigator happily talks about the state whose morals, customs and laws appealed to him most.
Second book
The second book of “Utopia” by Thomas More, a summary of which you can read in this article, begins with a description of a fictional island. It is named Utopia in honor of its founder, Utop.
There are 54 cities on this island. Everywhere the same institutions, morals and laws. This is a mandatory rule. The central settlement is the city of Amaurot. All land on the island is equally distributed between the regions. And urban and rural residents change places every two years. Those families who have not worked on the land before constantly come to the village.
There is a huge and deep moat around Amaurot, the city itself is surrounded by towers and loopholes. It stands out for its beauty and purity. A garden is laid out near each house, and private property is abolished to such an extent that once every ten years the inhabitants of Utopia change houses. Who chooses where to live by lot.
From Thomas More's work "Utopia", there is a brief summary on the brief, but you can find it in this article, we will learn how the control system is organized. Every thirty families are led by a phylarch, and over ten phylarchs there is a protophylarch. There are a total of 200 protophylarchs on the island, who choose a prince to lead the country. He rules throughout life. But in all other positions, changes occur annually.
Thomas More short biography
Thomas More's biography of the English lawyer, philosopher, and humanist writer is outlined in this article. Thomas More's core ideas outline his vision of life in society.
Thomas More short biography
The English writer and statesman was born on February 7, 1478 in London into the family of a lawyer. He received his first education at St. Anthony's Grammar School. At the age of 13 he served in the archbishop's house as a page. During 1490-1494 he studied at Oxford, studying legal sciences and classical languages. At the university he met Erasmus of Rotterdam. Thomas took monastic vows and until the end of his life led a restrained lifestyle, praying and fasting.
In 1502, More worked as a lawyer and taught law, and in 1504 he was elected to parliament. Advocating for a reduction in fees for King Henry VII, Thomas fell into disgrace and withdrew from political activities. He was able to return to national activities in 1509, when the king died.
In 1510 he was again elected to parliament, convened by Henry VIII. Thomas was appointed to the post of undersheriff of the capital and assistant judge.
In 1515 he began work on his first book. Utopia, which was born in 1516, was appreciated by the monarch.
In 1518, Thomas More joined the circle of members of the royal privy council. In 1521 he was elected to the Star Chamber and received a knighthood with huge plots of land. In the period from 1525-1527, the writer served as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and from 1529 - the post of Lord Chancellor.
In 1532, King Henry VIII proclaimed the act of creating the Anglican Church, with which More could not agree and thereby signed his own death sentence. Two years later he was imprisoned in the Tower, and on July 6, 1535 he was executed.
Thomas More main ideas:
- Defended the ideas of a united Christian world
- He believed that everyone is equal before the law - both commoners and kings
- All children, regardless of social status and gender, must be given equal upbringing and education
- Developed a system of physical education, which was based on gymnastics and military exercises
- He believed that the younger generation should be educated through hard work. The main occupation is agriculture
- Criticized the parasitism of the clergy, aristocracy, army and the desire for luxury in the absence of concern for other people
- Opposed feudalism
- The enemies of society are money and private property
- The ideal government system is democracy with elected positions
- The main concern of the state was the organization of production, distribution
- Supported the abolition of the death penalty
- A person must work 6 hours a day
Activities of the Utopians
In Thomas More's Utopia, a summary of which you are now reading, it is stated that all Utopians are engaged in agriculture. In addition to this, everyone has their own unique craft, which they pass on to their children and grandchildren.
At the same time, no one is forced to do anything specific. If the craft that is cultivated in his family is not to his liking, he is transferred to a family with the occupation he needs.
The working day on Utopia Island lasts six hours. Its residents devote the rest of their time to studying science or doing household chores. Those who show special zeal in the sciences are promoted to the category of scientists. Only from these people are representatives of the clergy, diplomats, ambassadors and state leaders chosen.
Life of the island's inhabitants
In the book “Utopia” by Thomas More, a summary of which you are now reading, it is described that while working, all the inhabitants of the island dress in skins. And they go out into the streets in raincoats. Moreover, their color and cut are all the same. Each person is given exactly one dress for two years. In the family, everyone obeys the elder.
When it turns out that the city is overpopulated, some of the citizens are sent to a colony, the same thing happens in the opposite case. In the central part of each city there is a market. All goods and food are brought to it. On any day, anyone can take whatever they want. Everything is in abundance. The palaces regularly host public dinners and lunches.
Residents of Utopia can move from city to city only with the permission of the tranibors and siphogrants. For self-will in this matter, they face severe punishment, and in case of repeated violation, even slavery.
Works
The greatest value among the works of Thomas More is the work “Utopia”, which includes two books.
The first part of the work is a literary and political pamphlet (a work of an artistic and journalistic nature). In it, the author expresses his views on how imperfect the social and political system is. More criticizes the death penalty, ironically ridicules the debauchery and parasitism of the clergy, firmly opposes the fencing of communal people, and expresses disagreement with the “bloody” laws on workers. In the same part, Thomas also proposes a program of reforms designed to correct the situation.
Map of the country from the book “Utopia” by Thomas More
The second part presents More's humanistic teachings. The main ideas of this doctrine boil down to the following: the head of state should be a “wise monarch”, private property and exploitation should be replaced by socialized production, labor is obligatory for everyone and should not be exhausting, money can only be used for trade with other countries (monopoly on which belongs to the state leadership), the distribution of products should be carried out according to needs. More's philosophy assumed complete democracy and equality, despite the presence of a king.
Illustration for the book “Utopia” by Thomas More
“Utopia” became the basis for the subsequent development of utopian teachings. In particular, she played a significant role in the development of the humanistic position of such a famous philosopher as Tommaso Campanella. Another significant work of Thomas More was “The History of Richard III,” the credibility of which is still debated: some researchers consider the book to be a historical work, while others consider it more of a work of fiction. The utopian also wrote many translations and poetic works.
Money and goods
In Thomas More's book "Utopia", you can read a summary in this article, it is described that the island has everything you need in the right quantity and even in excess. Some are even given to the poor in other countries, and the rest is sold.
The Utopians use money only in foreign policy; they save it in case of war. At the same time, precious metals, such as gold and silver, are despised. They make shackles into which slaves are shackled, but they themselves do not use them at all. Children play with precious stones while they remain small. Having grown up, they leave them.
The inhabitants of the island achieved great heights and success in the arts and sciences. When residents of other countries come to visit them, they get to know their scientific achievements and culture in detail. They quickly master and develop everything on their territory.
In “Utopia” by Thomas More, a summary of the chapters is in this article, it is argued that the whole life of the inhabitants of the island is filled with pleasures for body and spirit, as well as virtues. All relationships are built on justice and honesty; helping the sick and infirm is at the forefront. One of the main pleasures for Utopians is health. At the same time, they value strength, beauty and agility.
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Slavery in Utopia
At the same time, slavery exists on the island. It is used by residents of the island who have committed any shameful acts, or by representatives of other peoples who find themselves in Utopia who are sentenced to execution. One of the basic principles is that the labor of slaves is more beneficial than executing them.
Seriously ill citizens rarely decide to commit suicide, because life is their main pleasure. Everyone here considers such an act a great sin. Adultery is also severely punished.
Although the Utopians are saving money for a possible war, they themselves consider any armed confrontation an unacceptable atrocity. To win in foreign affairs, they prefer to use diplomacy and cunning; they often bribe those close to the enemy sovereign. Only when these methods do not prove effective do they decide to engage in military battles.
Utopia wages war with the help of foreign soldiers who are generously paid. Own citizens are appointed to leadership positions in the army. At the same time, Utopia is ready not only to defend itself in the international arena. The country reserves the right to stand up for oppressed peoples, but only if the battles take place on foreign lands.
