Free Essays on Utopia

Thomas More’s Utopia A Look at Social and Economic Problems Deep within every society there lies problems, significant and insignificant. Thomas More’s Utopia emphasizes the construction of the Utopian society upon the principle that â€Å"nobody owns anything, but everyone is rich†.1 With this basis, Utopian society not only succeeded, but become fruitful. Thomas More’s Utopia shows an ideal society, close to perfection in almost every way. Thomas More’s Utopia is divided into two distinct books; book one describes the ills facing many European nations and its peoples, while book two describes the Utopian way of life. Embedded within book two are the solutions to economic and social problems that are outlined in book one. Identified in book one of Thomas More’s Utopia are many different economic tribulations, which are remedied in book two. In addition, More shows problems involving land and employment in book one, which in book two are solved in his depiction of the Utopian society. Beyond Utopia, kings, nobles, churches, and men of wealth primarily hold land. The need for more and more land is the primary motivation for most of these individuals. The land is usually used for cultivation or for grazing; Nobles sometimes bullied poorer groups to get the land they seek. This group of individuals greedily â€Å"preys on his native land like a malignant growth†. 2 People are either â€Å"cheated or bullied into giving up their property, or systematically ill-treated until they’re finally forced to sell†. 3 Unfortunately these men, whom seek land and other luxuries, â€Å"hang on to their property until they’re too old and ill to do so any longer - and even then they re linquish it with a very ill grace†. 4 In Utopian society (book two), the land is owned by the state â€Å"as there’s no such thing as private property†. 5 Thus, Utopians do not fret about meaningless excesses of land, instead trying to improve themselves t... Free Essays on Utopia Free Essays on Utopia 1) What Kind of government does Sir Thomas More describe in Utopia? In Sir Thomas More’s Utopia he describes a government in which everything is so ideal. In a meeting with Peter Giles and a fictional character Raphael Hythloday (which he made up in order to tell his story), he describes the wonderful government of Utopia. He introduces the geographical feature of the Utopian Island, the country life, and the cities. The population control, markets, economy, slavery and religion are also acknowledged. Even though he has little hope of seeing many, though not all, his practices adopted in Europe, he whishes to see some go to use. The Utopian Island as describe by Raphael Hythloday in the introduction to Book II in Utopia, is approximately two hundred miles by 5 hundred miles, and is crescent shaped. An eleven mile harbor which broad from the crescent is form, however the entrance is dangerous to approach, thus it makes it easy to defend. Originally this land was connected to the mainland, however an early ruler had a 15-mile channel dug to create the Island Kingdom of Utopia. In Utopia there are about 54 cities distributed over the island at fairly regular intervals, about 24 miles apart and of approximately equal plan and population. The capital city, Amaurot, is located in the center of the island. This is where the center of Utopia is located. The country life in Utopia was basically farmhouses providing for agricultural communities, called â€Å"families†; they included some forty men and women plus two slaves. Thirty such families are presided over by a magistrate. In this society where every one is suppose to be perfect, there is an interesting way for giving variety to occupational activities such as jobs. Most people, after spending two years working in the country are transferred to the city for the next two years, however the shifts are only made so that only half the farm family is moved in a given year.... Free Essays on Utopia Utopia: A Wonderful Place A utopia is defined as a vision of an ideal place. My utopia is not a â€Å"perfect place,† by that I mean it’s not a land where everything is perfect and nothing goes wrong. It is, in fact, different from the world we live in presently. There are several topics in which I chose to discuss. For example, the land that we live on is very similar to the planet Earth. There is still more water than land and also there are still seven continents. Somehow, there would be a way we could all go by the same time. The sun would just have to travel around the complete world faster than it does at this point. I say this because this is one way we (human beings) isolate ourselves from each other. If everyone were on the same time (in the same time zone) things wouldn’t be as hectic. This seems like a small detail, but small details put together make big chaos. Also, we would never run out of natural gas and minerals. The gases and minerals would recreate themselves so we would never have to worry.Water would be forever plentiful, and we would not have to worry about where we’re going to find our next batch of oil. That is a scary thought (and often makes people very nervous). Also, by this rule in my utopia coming into effect, people wouldn’t panic and try to take as much as they could at one time because they wouldn’t have to worry about it not being enough. Another aspect of the land would be no litter on the streets. No one would even think to litter and if they did, there would always be a good semeritan around to tell them to pick it up. Most people do rude things when they think no one is looking, therefore a good dependable citizen would be â€Å"patrolling† around (helping the police enforce laws). Everyone has a role in life - whether it’s by gender, age, or race. For example, men are said to be the â€Å"bread winners† of the household. They supply the food and shelter. In my utopia, men ... Free Essays on Utopia The Utopia Moore describes is without a doubt progressive, and a ahead of it’s time society. There are many entities within the society that people at the time of the 16th century were shocked by. Many of his points are strong ones, with a focus on equality, health and happiness. Many of these simple pleasures we enjoy today were not available to many people in England and across Europe during these times. There was a large gap between the rich and poor. Therefore I feel certain parts of the basis drawn from the text reflect my philosophy of a Utopia, with some minor changes. Equality is something I value and paramount for a successful society. Moore stresses this with his society where agriculture is the main occupation and there is no real class structure. Everyone works for the good of the Utopia and no one has to work harder then another. This system is a good reflection of my general philosophy, and to use America as an example there is a great divide. Some of the hardest working people get paid the least, and others just born into wealth dominate so much without working for it. A society like this helps generate and foster more of a sense of a just society, where you can live with the comfort of knowing as long as you do your part all is well. There also seems to be a much more equal approach when it comes to women joining the priesthood, and religious freedom. However with all these free approaches, there are some faults. In the Utopia Moore leaves no room for human advancement with in the society. Although you are guaranteed security, your place in society will always stay the same. This being drawn off the fact that many of the riches wealth is drawn off the backs of the hardworking poor. It is my belief that humans always strive for more then they have. Though in Europe at this time when it was clear that many had nothing at all, and were living like near animals this thinking is very understandable. Another fault I have... Free Essays on Utopia Thomas More’s Utopia A Look at Social and Economic Problems Deep within every society there lies problems, significant and insignificant. Thomas More’s Utopia emphasizes the construction of the Utopian society upon the principle that â€Å"nobody owns anything, but everyone is rich†.1 With this basis, Utopian society not only succeeded, but become fruitful. Thomas More’s Utopia shows an ideal society, close to perfection in almost every way. Thomas More’s Utopia is divided into two distinct books; book one describes the ills facing many European nations and its peoples, while book two describes the Utopian way of life. Embedded within book two are the solutions to economic and social problems that are outlined in book one. Identified in book one of Thomas More’s Utopia are many different economic tribulations, which are remedied in book two. In addition, More shows problems involving land and employment in book one, which in book two are solved in his depiction of the Utopian society. Beyond Utopia, kings, nobles, churches, and men of wealth primarily hold land. The need for more and more land is the primary motivation for most of these individuals. The land is usually used for cultivation or for grazing; Nobles sometimes bullied poorer groups to get the land they seek. This group of individuals greedily â€Å"preys on his native land like a malignant growth†. 2 People are either â€Å"cheated or bullied into giving up their property, or systematically ill-treated until they’re finally forced to sell†. 3 Unfortunately these men, whom seek land and other luxuries, â€Å"hang on to their property until they’re too old and ill to do so any longer - and even then they re linquish it with a very ill grace†. 4 In Utopian society (book two), the land is owned by the state â€Å"as there’s no such thing as private property†. 5 Thus, Utopians do not fret about meaningless excesses of land, instead trying to improve themselves t... Free Essays on Utopia WATER WORLD EXCERPT: Jehovah’s witness of the Waterworld: â€Å"A few days went by and me and Sibil had a lot to discover. This was different indeed. In the old world, we would have to sit or stand or walk. Here there was no such thing. It was just pure thought of what we would want to do. Thought is somewhat of a wrong word. It was deeper than thought. It was more intention and it happened. I learnt a lot of things. Well again it was not learned, it was already known. I discovered what I was capable of doing. It was funny how the first day I found out that we were not even walking, but simply moving without having to be confined in to space. The same was with speaking. And hearing. And knowing. It was truly strange. I knew it all in a few days. Well maybe moments. Here there was so much to do. Or shall I say not to do. Language is a barrier when it comes to when one really does not have to speak. Everybody was the same. Not color wise, but functioned the same ways, even though they did their own desired things. I was amazed at this new reality, where I could hear Sibil when she was not around. Like that day I missed her, when she took off to the Center. Moments later of feeling lonely and reminiscing of her, it was apparent that I knew where she was. And not only that, I knew what she was doing, and what she said to me. And only moments after that I did see her right near me. The mind is not the same mind as it used to be. It seems it was vaster like the oceans and moments of knowledge continually take shapes as waves. We all knew each other. There was total knowledge, pure love and extreme beauty all around me. What more could I ask for†¦Ã¢â‚¬  ASIF HOQUE PROF. T. COLE LIB200 HISTORY: It is clearly understandable the need for a utopia, because it is the closest thing a man can become to God. The powers to control, destroy, disable, and create a whole society at the owner’s free will. My utopia, Waterworld was created...