Utopia [Paperback]

While an Ambassador to Flanders, More spent spare time writing this book, 'Utopia'. The very title is a still a by-word in the English language (as well as others) of a state of bliss and peace; it is often used with the context of being unrealistic. 'Utopia' is More's response to and development from Plato's 'Republic', in that it is a framework for a perfect society, or at least perfect according to More's ideas of the time. Penned originally in Latin, 'Utopia' has been translated widely; one of the better translations is by H.V.S. Ogden, in 1949, still reprinted in various editions to this day. Originally published in Latin in 1516, the first English version appeared in 1551, some 16 years after More's death.

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Utopia
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Thomas More writes this as if he were traveling, and meets his friend Peter Giles, who introduces him to Raphael Hythloday, a scholar/traveler with tales to tell.

Hythloday made friends with a prince who outfitted him for a journey. He traveled through deserts and fertile lands. He proceeds to give an account to Giles and More. In an ironic twist, given More's own attachment to Henry VIII, Hythloday states that he doesn't give his information in advice of kings or princes, for to be beholden to them is not a wise thing. He quotes Plato, in saying that unless kings were themselves philosophers, they should never appreciate philosophers.

More argues for public service, which Hythloday rejects as something that other place-seekers will use to bolster their own positions. Then Hythloday makes the startling pronouncement with regard to how a society should be constituted: 'As long as there is property, and while money is the standard of all things, I cannot think that a nation can be governed either justly or happily; not justly, because the best things will fall to the share of the worst men; nor happily, because all things will be divided among a few (and even these are not in all respects happy), the rest being left to the absolutely miserable.'

Hythloday proceeds to give an account of the life of Utopia, where, he says, there are so few laws and so much liberty and equality that virtue is always rewarded, and each person has what he or she needs. He talks about this under the following headings:

Of Their Towns, Particularly of Amaurot
Of Their Magistrates
Of Their Trades, and Manner of Life
Of Their Traffic
Of the Travelling of the Utopians
Of Their Slaves, and of Their Marriages
Of Their Military Discipline
Of the Religions of the Utopians

'Utopia' is a radical document. It anticipates the modern idea of communism, with private property at a minimum; it is generations ahead in the idea of equality of the sexes and freedom of religion. This may seem a remarkable statement from someone who will go to his death supporting the Roman hierarchy, but in historical irony, had religious freedom been respected in England at the time, More would have had nothing to fear.

'Utopia' was a place of education and free inquiry. Again, More's own life models this - travelers from as far away as Constantinople and Venice, visiting More's home in Chelsea, remarked on the incredible sense of knowledge and respect for reason and learning, not just for the men, but also for the women of the household (More's own daughter once impressed Henry VIII with her Latin training so much he was at pains to find something at which he excelled that he could best her at).

At different points throughout the text, More (speaking through Hythloday) jabs in witty and insightful manner the habits of the day - that kings are often more concerned to fill their own coffers than increasing the general wealth of the nation; that courts are designed to be self-serving and self-perpetuating; that liberties are curtailed not for just and reasonable causes, but often for petty personal reasons.

Some of the ideas, however, are not as modern or enlightened as they might seem at first glance. Utopians' freedom of religion exists only in very narrow bounds of reason - they are all monotheists, and while they might identify this deity with the sun or moon or a good person who died long ago, they are not permitted to speak or attempt to convert others to this idea, without risking bondage or death. Not too Utopian after all...

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More was beatified by Leo XIII in 1886 and canonised by Pius XI in 1935 (it is significant to note that Anglican-Roman relations were at a strained point during these times, and the raising of an English saint who rejected the Anglican construct served at least minor political points, something More would have been able to appreciate, if not approve). The official feast day is July 9.

I think it's safe to say that everyone, at some point in their lives, has sat down and thought about "Utopia." I know I did. You think, "Well, if everyone worked equal amounts and everyone shared equal amounts, there would be plenty of things for everyone, and everyone would be happy." This book takes that idea and stretches it to it's greatest extremes, incorporating politics, military strategies, religions, lifestyles... Everything that makes up a country. It really sounds like it could work... Except for the fact that humans are human.

And More goes into that. With every new idea he proposes, he is already responding to your counter-statements by explaining how the people in Utopia act a certain way, believe a certain way, or he'll take another key element of the Utopian system and use that in his defense as well. He knows that humans are flawed in many ways, but Utopia is all about perfection... And so therefore the Utopians are perfect. In the book he says, "They never find fault about other ways of life, or boast about their own." (122). Only in Utopia.

However, don't get the idea that the Utopian system is truly perfect, because it has its own contradictions. Reading through the book, I found at least 4 contradictions of itself, but I think More did this on purpose. He knows this place can never exist, and it seems like he threw a few loopholes in there to remind the reader of that.

Another thing that is really enlightening about this book is the first half of it, and how it ties in to modern American life. To me, it is clearly obvious that America was partly based on it. I've talked to people that don't feel similarly, but if you read through it and think about how much it parallels modern life in America, it really stands out. I still believe that the Founding Forefathers of America all had copies of this book at their sides while deciding how this new country should be run. Read it and you'll understand.

Another great thing about reading this book is the insane amount of great quotes there are. More has a wonderful talent of saying what's obvious about the world, but saying it in a way that's terrifically accurate and concise... Making you think, "Man, that's EXACTLY how it is! If people only knew..." I have something on every other page highlighted in my copy of this book. Literally. Sometimes more frequent than that.

Overall, I give this book the highest reccommendation possible. Read it with an open mind, a highlighter in hand, and a place to jot down notes nearby. Once you start reading, you have a flood of epiphanies coming to you, and it's nice to be able to look back on them and think you're smart :). Prepare to be enlightened, because this is one of the best eye-openers you could possibly find.