Thomas More's Utopia

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Table of Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u Main Body PAGEREF _Toc322434869 \h 3Utopia PAGEREF _Toc322434870 \h 6Ideal Commonwealth PAGEREF _Toc322434871 \h 7Principle Application PAGEREF _Toc322434872 \h 9Social Critique PAGEREF _Toc322434873 \h 10New Island of Utopia PAGEREF _Toc322434874 \h 11Geography of Utopia PAGEREF _Toc322434875 \h 13Work Habits PAGEREF _Toc322434876 \h 14Social, Business and Travel Relations PAGEREF _Toc322434877 \h 15Gold and Silver PAGEREF _Toc322434878 \h 15Moral Philosophy PAGEREF _Toc322434879 \h 16Conclusion PAGEREF _Toc322434880 \h 17Bibliography PAGEREF _Toc322434881 \h 19
Thomas More's Utopia
Introduction
Utopia has been applied to describe ideal society, intentional communities and fictional societies that are applied in the literature. Utopia is an ideal society or community that is characterized with a perfect socio-political legal system. Sir Thomas More imported the term Utopia from the Greek, and applied it in the book named ‘Utopia`. Utopia was applied to describe a fictional island situated in the Atlantic Ocean. Utopia over the years has concepts spawned prominently in the dystopia. Utopia as a Greek work meaning that there is ‘no place`. English has a similar application of Utopia resonating with ‘good place`.
The term Utopia has similarly illustrated double meanings. Utopia has been applied in history and politics over the years. The notion of global Utopia is one of the pointed endings of history considering the peace in the world. This is in light to the spheres and political structures; it is commonly noted to resonate with poly culture that is a system adapted in models identifying with interactions between identities and people from different cultures, which have different styles of looking at things. Participatory society has present principles subjected and followed by the members of the community.
The world has recently changed due to technological advancements and is presenting different political systems altogether. Current times are dominated with the science facts as stated by Sir. Efremov, a Soviet writer, the writer united the humanities amid challenges in competition considering the alternative philosophies. Utopia is applied in other philosophical lines resonating with religion, ecology, economics, science, technology and feminism. Utopian literature dates back to pre-twentieth century, twentieth century and the twenty first century.[Sargent, Lyman. Utopianism: A Very Short Introduction. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010), 32]
Main Body
The Book ‘The city of the Sun` is an Italian work done by the Dominican philosopher Tommasso Campanella. The book critically looked at the early Utopian work. Campanella was imposed on the basis of sedition and heresy dated back to the year sixteen zero two. The book, city of the sun is presented in a dialogue form identifying with Knights Hospitaller grandmother and the Sea Captain Genoese. Plato inspired much aspiration in the writing of this book. There has been a clear description of the Atlantis in Timaeus. The book went ahead to shed light on the theocratic society where the communities often considered women, goods and children in the same category. Men were presumed unique and very powerful. Considering the Thomas More`s Utopia, men and women were considered equal. This cited gender equality consideration in Utopian society. Campanella in the city of the sun projected at changed societal roles in the future. He focused on the possibility of a new world. He focused on a peaceful, unified world governed by monarchy and maintaining considerable peace.[Tommasso Campanella, The City of the Sun. Kila: Kessinger Publishing, 2004, 5-17.] [Francis Bacon, New Atlantis. Kila: Kessinger Publishing, 1992, pp. 12.]
The world has changed significantly considering the roles held by women and children. Men and women have come to a level of equal share in the political and societal roles. This is in line with the projections made by Campanella. The world has taken shape with women leaders immerging to national levels, a profound achievement. Men have come to respect this verdict. This is similar to the views of More in the book ‘Utopia`. Men and women had equal roles in the society. The city considered in the book ‘the city of the sun` entails defended and protected seven circles of walls, indicating enhanced security and a sense of belonging.
The walls are constructed with the notion of protecting the citizens. Campanella argued that the city is placed in a favorable ideal climate with physical health and clean air. The core differences resonate with the distribution of work in the society. Campanella borrowed much of the philosophical ideas from Aristotle in the considerations of the peasants, excluded artisans and people involved in the manual labor. People are entitled to perform duties in which they display the highest aptitude. Equal division of labor is necessary, in that idleness reduces the overall efforts of others. There are similar sentiments in the More`s Utopia. Corruption has widened the gap between the rich and the poor.
This forced the political class in Utopia to impose communal ownership of the properties, citing no individual property ownership. This law ensured that all the Utopians are equal in power and riches. Painted walls of the city indicate uniqueness. Walls were painted with science images and arts images, altogether. The walls of the temples were neatly painted with the images of the arts and sciences in large circles identifying planets. Heavens and the stars were represented in mathematical figures indicating the marvels of the world with plants, minerals and finally the prevalence of the mankind. Work of Campanella indicated indigenous discoveries with numerous illustrations of inventions with curiosity aspect.
Campanella asserted that men have come to a point of neglecting themselves and concentrating on breading other domestic animals. People are preoccupied with other issues to appoint that they neglect basic human issues resonating with love and sex. They believe of the existence of other worldly creatures that influence human life. Utopian by More believed in creatures as a source of inspiration and sentiments. Campanella`s ‘The city of the sun` indicated the need of affection between men and women that is purely based on respect and friendship more than the inclination to the sexual attraction.[Tommasso Campanella, The City of the Sun. Kila: Kessinger Publishing, 2004, 5-17.]
The affection goes beyond dancing, gifts and conversations. Moral and physical qualities must be observed in the society to maintain a passionate, personal and emotional relationship to the collective development of the community. This clearly resonates with the Utopian people. Moral aspects were highly respected and given attention, people with immoral traits were subjected to punishments. Campanella indicated that the religious beliefs influenced a great deal on the societal fundamental principles. This is well displayed by the roles played by the association of the stars and the city. It indicates that the earth is influenced by the attributes accorded by the earthly affairs.
God and the human beings have been in constant relationship, this identifies with the More ‘Utopia` people have strong relationship with religious beliefs citing acknowledgment of God. New Atlantis is considered a Utopian novel. The novel was written by sir. Francis Bacon. Bacon reflected on the future and the vision of the human knowledge and discovery. He continued to express his ideals and aspirations for the humankind. The novel has been credited with the availability of the Utopian land characterized with enlightenment, generosity, splendor, dignity, public spirit and piety. Solomon`s house in the novel prophesied the establishment of the modern research Universities in pure sciences and applied sciences.
The work of the Solomon`s house resonates with the work of Hythloday in the More book ‘Utopia`. Hythloday and the Solomon`s house coincide in the appreciation of learning. New Atlantis depicts a mythical island discovered by European ship considered lost in the Pacific Ocean. It is believed that the New Atlantis is located west of Peru. The island has unfolding scenes resonating with the state owned Solomon House and the customs of the kingdom in the island. The fields describe the history and the society of the island. Christian religion takes a center stage in the land mark. People inhabiting in the Bensalem display honesty, moral character, in that people are pious and chaste in nature.[Segal, Howard.Technological Utopianism in American Culture. (New York: Syracuse University Press, 1985), 52]
This identifies well with the More`s ‘Utopia` in the administration of Christianity in the society. It is believed that Solomon`s house is after the betterment of the society. The city symbolizes the future, characterized with human knowledge and discovery to the development of a modern research university in applied science and in pure science. The novel clearly shows that Bacon understood that science requires analysis, considerations and accumulation of observations. Bacon is considered to have foreseen the developments of the experimental design. It was expected that the design of experiments could be approved with time. This has come to the light, considering the current technological developments in the education sectors. Bacon noted that there were rites and ordinances observed in the Salomon`s House.
Utopia
Comparing Thomas More`s Utopia, Campanella`s ‘The city of the sun` and the Francis Bacon`s ‘The new Atlantis`. The three books reflected on Utopia. This is displayed clearly indicating that the three books described an ideally place considered perfect. This is resonating with the political, social and moral aspects of the people living in the designated regions. The three books have materials reflecting on the idealistic and impractical political reforms, and social reforms, as well. Most of the reforms cited in the three books has since changed and come to light, considering the present world. Thomas More illustrated on Utopia in political philosophical model, where he initiated on genre.
Thomas more sought for the literacy humanism and went ahead in search for the best government form through the discussions involving Raphael Hythloday. The island of Utopia as discussed by the Hythloday; indicates that the island appears flawed in political aspects, religious aspects and personal freedom neglected. Utopia is expressed in Campanella`s book ‘the city of the sun` in a manner that clearly expresses Utopia. This is done by the consideration of the poetic dialogue done between Genoese Sea the captain and the knights Hospitallers grandmother along with his guest. It is believed that the poetic book influenced the work of Bacon in the book ‘the Atlantis`. Tommasso Campanella was jailed severally on the pretence of heresy and sedition.[Claeys, Gregory.The Cambridge Companion to Utopian Literature. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010), 174]
His later work was done in Italian and later revised in Latin. The work has a command of Utopia as similarly to the works of Thomas More`s ‘Utopia` and the work of the Francis Bacon in the novel ‘New Atlantis`, Utopia in the book ‘the new Atlantis` is clearly expressed by Francis Bacon. The book clearly exploited on Utopian impulse, heroism and modernism. God was put at the center stage considering nature and science. It is believed that the work of Francis Bacon was influenced by the contributions done by the Campanella in the book ‘the city of the sun`. Utopia is clearly expressed in the Utopian books written by Thomas More, Campanella and Francis Bacon.
Ideal Commonwealth
Thomas More`s Utopia, Campanella ‘the city of the sun` and the Francis Bacon`s ‘the new Atlantis` focuses on ideal commonwealths. Commonwealths relates with politically organized body of people prevailing in one government. Thomas More`s ‘Utopia` considered the imagination of men in an enlarged world this was in the year fifteenth century. Thomas imagined of a traveler named Raphael Hythloday a Greek word meaning ‘knowing in trifles` who as involved in sailing with the Vespucci in the previous three voyages.
It was observed that Raphael did not return in the last voyage citing separation from the rest of the comrades. He wondered to an island of Utopia, Utopia is a Greek word meaning ‘nowhere`. Thomas wrote on philosophical satire on the European nations in the form of the ideal commonwealth described by the Hythloday in the book. The book is believed to have enlightened Peter Giles, Aegidius and Antwerp who are clearly introduced in the book ‘Utopia`. The site orchestrated by the book is believed to be too deep to be understood by the common person on the street. The book mocked the English governance system by ironical inputs on the expected areas of governance, which the government failed.[Morris, James Matthew and Kross, Andrea.Historical Dictionary of Utopianism. (Oxford: Scarecrow Press, 2004), 24]
Utopia indicated that the English political system had political evils in place that prevented the implementation of the normal government responsibilities. Francis Bacon considered ideal commonwealth in a similar model as Thomas More`s Utopia. Francis Bacon in the book ‘New Atlantis` was eminent in the sixth century. The ideal commonwealth were subjected to the seas in reflection of the great Atlantis continent that was never discovered. The New Atlantis indicated foreboding with the Australian continent. Bacon in his book sought experimental dominion and science of men over things.
The book continues to assert that science binds man to man in a civilized model. Science is believed to be the leader when reflecting in the God`s love. Thomas and Campanella on the ideal commonwealth indicated the suffering experienced in the line of science. The book on ‘the city of the sun` was written in the sixteenth century. Campanella had an appetite and search for knowledge and asserted that the study of the nature should be reflected through works and not through books. This similar to the assertions made by Bacon in the ‘New Atlantis`. Campanella just like Bacon and Thomas attacked the dead faith in the Aristotle`s work. He continued to assert that research led to blind idolatry. Campanella had the notion that men should reform the sciences by taking a keen look at the God`s books and following the nature. Campanella suffered on th...