Utopia - TL;DR
Article by Carter Cada - Written 8/25/2023
Our society is filled with people who want to see change. Whether political, religious, or structural, there are people who feel that both our nation and our world are fraught with mistakes that need correcting.
But while most would agree that changes need to be made, and some go so far as to protest the wrong, very few indeed would be able to give a solution to these issues when questioned.
By nature, people are critical. A dish of food wasn’t good enough, a service too expensive, or a decision not made quickly enough. Complaints are easy to find. But what about solutions?
In 1516, Thomas More set about to change that. As the Lord High Chancellor of England, he was tired of listening to complaints and debates that never yielded any progress.
As a result, he determined to show the world that solutions should come before complaints, even if they are not perfect.
Rated on:
Personal Development
Accuracy
Family-Friendliness
Historical-Cultural value
Artistry
“You remind me of incompetent schoolmasters who prefer caning their pupils to teaching them”
What is Utopia about?
TL;DR -
Utopia is a discussion of the problems in society, government, and life in general, and how we as individuals should strive to overcome them.
In 1516, Sir Thomas More, Lord High Chancellor of England, published Utopia to combat the widespread apathy people displayed towards solving societal issues. While the first half of the work focuses on actual issues that were often the subject of philosophical and ethical debate in his day, the second half provides a hypothetical solution to many of these issues.
The book itself is primarily written as a conversation between More and an imaginary citizen of Utopia, Raphael Nonsensico. Utopia (itself being the Latin word for “Nowhere”), also known as “Noplace” in English, is a land that, through a unique form of government and culture, has solved many of the issues plaguing Medieval Europe.
Thomas later records these conversations, along with his opinions on them, before forwarding them to a good friend of his: Peter Gilles. He comments that, while he did not think Raphael’s opinions were made from an educated position, he did find Raphael to be a moral and kind man, and would therefore entertain his notions.
In creating the land of Utopia, More took great lengths to inform his readers that he did not see the ways, mannerisms, and government of Utopia as a solution to societal issues, but rather, as a sort of blueprint that demonstrated how people should take a creative approach to solving society’s issues.
From details like Rapheal’s name being “Nonsensico”, to Utopia being a word for nowhere, to Utopian philosophy being largely based on irational reasoning, More took great lengths to ensure that people did not think that he took the Utopian system too seriously.
He even went as so far as to state at the end of the book that he had “several objections” to Raphael’s ideas, as well as notating “Many contradictions” within Utopian ideals. Not wanting to bother Raphael after such a long exposition, he decided to keep these to himself, however.
So, while many have taken More’s work to be a support of socialism, it seems much more rational to assume that More simply intended to encourage people to innovate when it came to solving societal issues.
How good is More’s Utopia?
Personal Development
-5 out of 5 Stars
TL;DR -
Utopia challenges its readers both to resolve injustices when they see them, as well as encourage others to do right in the face of opposition or discouragment.
By far the most common response people have to problems, be they personal, familial, or global, is apathy. Unless the issue is urgent or requires immediate attention, we often leave issues for our future selves to resolve.
This response was no different five hundred years ago, and it was something More felt he needed to address. It was More’s belief that issues did not go unresolved because of bad solutions. Rather, he felt that the root issue was a lack of solutions.
Society would continue to use outdated or inefficient methods of problem-solving simply because other solutions weren’t to be had. Throughout Utopia, More makes it clear through the characters’ thoughts, as well as their responses to Utopian ideals, that new ideas were neither common nor welcome in political thought.
Today’s environment in little different, political or no. New ideas meet opposition wherever they are found, whether in the workplace or in the art studio.
Because new ideas have had a somewhat negative stigma associated with them, many have chosen to simply not introduce them. More’s solution to this issue was a book which actively encouraged the proliferation of new ideas, as well as active attempts to engage oneself in participating in solution-making.
Raphael embodies the cynicism held by many that nothing can be done to bring good into the world of politics. However, Thomas urges him again and again that, if people do not try, things will only get worse.
Accuracy
-5 out of 5 Stars
TL;DR -
Utopia is accurate not only because it was written addressing issues in society that still exist today, but also because More held a position where he was constantly exposed to these issues.
Thomas More was the Lord High Chancellor of England. The name sounds fancy, but what does it mean?
While the position meant different things throughout different periods of history, in More’s lifetime, he was essentially the #1 advisor to the king. This meant that he would attend the royal court, and advise the king on matters, whether they be material, spiritual, or philosophical.
Not only did a Lord High Chancellor have to prove themselves wise in all three of these areas, but they also had to acquire and maintain the highest level of confidence with their monarch, as it was often upon their word that a final ruling lay.
For his part, More was more than qualified for the role. Besides an extensive education and an in-depth understanding of societal functions, More was keenly in-tune with the everyday man. We can see through his writings that he was not untouched by the grievances of everyday people. In fact, he considered himself somewhat of a champion of the common man.
Many times throughout Utopia, the plight of the poor brought on by the greed or wickedness of others (especially the wealthy) is given attention. Nobody was safe from his beratement, whether they be wealthy business owners or spoiled courtiers. Even the clergy, many of whom were corrupt, were not safe from his two-edged tongue.
Being constantly exposed to the troubles of others through both his presence at the royal court, as well as hearing the troubles of the king through one-on-one counsel meant that More was never out of the loop when it came to the problems and injustices of his society.
Unlike many so called “reformers” who wrote on issues they had little familiarity with, Thomas heard frequently the plight of his countrymen, and relayed them to us in his work.
Even the producer of England’s largest export, the wooly sheep, were not safe from his scathing remarks. “These placid creatures, which used to require so little food, have now apparently developed a raging appetite…Fields, houses, towns, everything goes down their throats.”
Family Friendliness
-4 out of 5 Stars
TL;DR -
While the book does not contain any gratuitious violence or immorality, both of these subjects are touched on, as they do occur in society. The book is inteded for a mature audince.
While the books does contain references to things like violence and nudity, they are in respect to societal issues. Violence with war, and nudity within marriage. Unlike many modern books, these points are not included as appealing explicit content, rather, they are mentioned and forgotten again.
Outside the aforementioned instances, the book, both in word and theme, promote a message of morality and goodness.
Many times throughout the book, when a new thought or proposal is made, others object stating that, in so many words, that these new ideas can only work “if men are good”.
More’s aim in all of this was to put an undercurrent in his message that, while new laws or forms of justice might go a long way in helping society, only a reformation in personal morals would make any real and lasting change.
Through several remarks scattered throughout the work, More asserts that the word of God can be the only foundation.
Historical-Cultural Value
-3 out of 5 Stars
TL;DR -
The book gives an accurate look into mideival government and justice, though its cultural relevance is limited to politics as well as the single opinion of the author.
If you’re looking for a book to delve into medieval life and culture, this is probably not the read for you. Even if you are looking for a book that explores the complexities of a medieval court, this book will only provide very limited insight.
More’s work, more than anything, is a call to action for its reader. A call to think, and to consider new ways or ideas. Because of this, he does not go in depth explaining court life or intracacies. In fact, most of the examples of political proceedings he provides in the book come from a single courtroom setting.
That being said, the book does present the reader with the standard reasoning, attacks, and defenses that would have been common of the time. Many statements were backed by the word of God, or at least a poet or philosopher (either of whom usually doubled as a theologian). Suspicion was often grounds for accusation, and very few kept a level head…
Okay, so at least one of those is still true today.
Regardless, Raphael and More, though often on opposite sides of an opinion, present the common views that many both within and without politics had of political proceedings: that law was based on scripture, that kings were generally not content with what they owned, that war was favored above statesmanship, and that the interests of the wealthy were considered before anyone else.
While some of these are still prevalent in today’s society, some of these dynamics have changed, or disappeared entirely. More’s work is but a taste of the medieval court, and for a full meal, another book should be consulted.
Utopia is neither a discourse on medieval justice, nor a picture of medieval court, yet, it does give us a small glimpse into both.
Artistry
2 out of 5 Stars
TL;DR -
The book, while well written, is a political treatise, not a work of art meant to display beauty. Rather, it is meant to provoke a person to action.
Not much more needs to be said. More did not wish to create something to entertain people. In fact, he directly opposed the though. In his introduction to the work, More stated “I’d much rather be thought honest than clever” when announcing he had no desire to embellish his story.
And, while he could have given a dramatic flair to his work, he desired to create something authentic, because that was exactly what he desired - authenticity.
Many times throughout Utopia, More criticizes those who put on a show of pomp for nothing more than vanity, or those who nearly worship the wealthy. In his own time. More had doubtless heard many, many speeches containing powerful oratory, gripping sorrow, or uproarious humor.
However, as is often the case today, these embellishments only serve to cover up the true intent the messages truly carried, something that has changed little in the 500 some years that have passed since his writing.
The truth often goes unembellished, something Occam’s Razor had stated about two hundred years prior. More wanted to tell people how he truly felt, and so, in the simplest way possible, he did.
More, while a great thinker, had no intention to create a piece of art. He did not have a high opinion of people who only wanted to be entertained - something he made abundantly clear in his letter to Peter Gilles.
Overall Rating
-4 out of 5 Stars
TL;DR -
If the reader is willing to devote both time and thought to the book, they will find it both inspiring and challenging. The reader will be rewarded for their efforts with a new outlook on challenging the issues of life, whether they be in the home, workplace, or even the Capitol itself.
In my years of reading, I have purveyed many books in which the author attempted to prove their own philosophy, or simply complained about the wrongs of the world.
Not so with Utopia. In a beautiful, simple way, More was able to convey both problem and solution in less than 200 pages. While the specific laws and traditions of Utopia itself were not meant to be a solution to all of life’s problems, the book encouraged people to innovate when creating solutions to society’s problems.
Sadly, five hundred years since Utopia’s initial publication, there are still multitudes of people who have nothing better to do than complain, and give a bad name to the people who desire real and effectual change in today’s world.
If you are someone who desires to make a real change in the world, I would encourage you to give the book a try! Very few books have I enjoyed reading as much as this one and I hope that, if you give it a read, you’ll enjoy it too.
Who knows? Maybe it’ll inspire you to seek change of your own.
About the author
Carter John Cada is the founder of and main author for Quips from the Quiver. In his free time, he loves to read, spend time with his 10 siblings, read, work out, read, work on his manuscript, read, and read.
He also enjoys eating.
