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Thomas More
Utopia, continued
Summary
“Their Moral Philosophy”
All Utopians are educated, since through education an
individual's values and attitudes take shape. Utopians devote much
of their free time to learning, and they are advanced in the sciences.
They avoid pointless abstractions in philosophy and focus instead
on the meaning of life and the nature of happiness, themes that
relate to their belief in the afterlife. They distinguish between
true pleasure, which arises from care of the mind and body, and
false pleasure in status and appearance.
“Their Delight in Learning”
Hythloday describes how eager the Utopians were to learn
Greek and how happy they were to read the works of Greek grammarians,
historians, and philosophers that Hythloday left behind after a
journey. The Utopians are fast learners and are always ready to
learn skills to make life more agreeable, such as printing and paper
making.
“Slaves”
Utopians do not execute criminals but rather condemn them
to slavery, and they offer asylum to criminals sentenced to death
in other countries. The slave class consists not only of domestic
and foreign criminals but also of foreign soldiers captured in battle.
“Care of the Sick and Dying”
Utopians properly care for the sick, and priests encourage
euthanasia for the terminally ill. Those who refuse euthanasia are
still well cared for. Suicide is condemned, however, and the bodies
of people who kill themselves without priests' approval are disposed
of carelessly.
“Marriage Customs”
Utopians view marriage as a sacred institution. Premarital
intercourse is prohibited and severely punished, but the bride and
the groom view each other naked before the wedding day to avoid
unwanted surprises. The Utopians permit divorce in cases of abuse
or adultery, and they sentence the adulterer to slavery.
“Punishments”
Utopia has no lawyers. Politicians are respected but not
venerated, and since there is no money or property, bribery is unknown.
“Foreign Relations”
Utopians avoid the dishonesty and ruthlessness characteristic
of Europeans. They do not believe in treaties because treaties imply
conflict and deceit among the parties.
“Warfare”
The Utopians maintain a skilled army for self-defense and
for humanitarian interventions. When possible, they hire mercenaries
to fight in their place. They send supplies to allies under attack,
and if the situation is especially dire, they send soldiers. To avoid
war, they carry out covert propaganda campaigns in enemy territory
in an effort to cause political turmoil, such as by offering rewards
for the assassination of the enemy leader. Utopia has no forced
military service unless the country is invaded, in which case men
are sent into battle with their wives and children so that they are
inspired to fight bravely.
“Religions”
Utopians consider atheism immoral but tolerate other forms
of religious expression. Many worship planets, animals, or an ancient
virtuous hero, but the majority believe in one mysterious and all-powerful
God. Many Utopians were baptized after Hythloday and the other travelers
taught them about Christ. All worship together at the same ceremony.
Priests, both male and female, conduct the service, educate the
children, and act as moral and spiritual guides.
Conclusion
Hythloday concludes his description of Utopia by extolling
its virtues and superiority. He believes their contempt for money
is the reason for their happiness. Pride prevents rich men in other
countries from changing. More disagrees with many of the Utopians'
choices, but he still hopes to institute some of their practices
in actual cities.
Analysis
The Utopian belief in education as a right and a necessity
was revolutionary. In More's Europe, only the rich and powerful
could hope to get an education. The proliferation of learning during
the Renaissance applied only to the nobility and wealthy upper classes,
and most Europeans remained illiterate. In Utopia, on the other
hand, all people can share in an intellectual life. Utopian education
is systematized and uniform, unlike the European system, which often involved
independent private tutors and differed from school to school. Through
their rational education system, Utopians feel they can shape the
morality and values of their children and give them the ability
to be good citizens. Education in Utopia is not just a means of intellectual
enlightenment but a program of moral and cultural development designed
to ensure that Utopia will always replenish itself through its children.
Although Utopia is a fantasy, Hythloday's descriptions
reveal a great deal about sixteenth-century Europe, and many of
Utopia's most provocative elements are meant to encourage reflection
on the true nature of European society. For example, slavery in
Utopia is not premised on race, ethnicity, or belief but rather
on moral behavior, and only criminals can become slaves. However,
the fact that slavery could be conceived as existing even within
this ideal society suggests that ideal societies themselves are
products of their times, subject to the beliefs and prejudices of
the world from which they spring. The Utopian system of medical
care, too, reveals a great deal about the state of medicine in the
early sixteenth century. Utopians not only allow but encourage euthanasia,
an idea at odds with religious doctrine of the time, which contended
that suicide of any kind was a sin that damned its perpetrator to
hell. Utopian attitudes toward marriage and war, though fanciful
and highly impractical in many respects, are deliberately provocative,
and More may have included them to give new perspectives on the
actual customs of his day.
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