Utopia
In Utopia, Thomas More presents a description of an ideal and distant island called Utopia. The books opens with a discussion between three friends (Thomas More, Peter Giles, and Raphael Nonsenso) about politics and the customs and practices of people around the world. The second half of the book consists almost entirely of a description of a place called Utopia by Raphael.
I have heard the word ‘Utopian’ used by politicians to describe the policies of a political opponent. I received the impression that in using the word ‘Utopian’, that policies with a large role for the state were being derided as unrealistic, a ‘Utopian dream’. After reading Utopia by Thomas More, I can now fully understand the meaning of this term.
The description of Utopia is so self contradictory and unrealistic that it is almost comical. There are so many misunderstandings, mistakes of logic, non-sequeteurs, that it could take an entire book to point them out. I find Utopia totally unbelievable.
There is some debate over whether More was promoting communism in Utopia, or making fun of it. I think it could be the later. ‘Utopia’ means ‘no place’, and the last name of the character giving the description of Utopia means ‘dispenser of nonsense’. There are similar words used throughout the book that seem to communicate the fantastical nature of Utopia.
More also seems to understand some basic arguments against communism. For example, when discussing Utopia with Raphael, More (in character) says,
I don’t believe you’d ever have a reasonable standard of living under a communist system. There’d always tend to be shortages, because nobody would work hard enough. In the absence of a profit motive, everyone would become lazy, and rely on everyone else to do the work for him.
Well said, I couldn’t agree more.
© Danny Haynes
