UTOPIA & UTOPIAN LITERATURE - Page 2 of 4 - book summaries and study materials

Summary and Analysis Book II: The Discourse on Utopia: Euthanasia

Summary In their care for the sick, the Utopians are extremely solicitous, but when it happens that a person is suffering torturous pain and is known to be beyond hope of cure, he is visited by the priests and magistrates, who encourage him to end his misery. Their proposal is […]

Summary and Analysis Book II: The Discourse on Utopia: Slavery

Sir Thomas More

Summary Slaves were either criminals who had been convicted for serious crimes, or prisoners taken in battle, or foreigners who subjected themselves willingly to slavery in Utopia because they were under the death penalty in their own country or because of a life of unendurable poverty and drudgery in their […]

Summary and Analysis Book II: The Discourse on Utopia: Philosophy

Sir Thomas More

Summary The learned men of Utopia are given to disputing over various questions of moral philosophy, but their chief concern is in trying to determine the source and nature of happiness. The prevailing opinion among them is that pleasure is the basis of that happiness. They seldom engage in philosophical […]

Summary and Analysis Book II: The Discourse on Utopia: Learning

Sir Thomas More

Summary Although only a few persons who reveal a special capacity and disposition for studies are allowed to devote themselves entirely to learning, the entire population is encouraged to devote a good share of its leisure time to reading. The Utopians had never heard of any of the chief thinkers […]

Summary and Analysis Book II: The Discourse on Utopia: The Economy

Sir Thomas More

Summary Utopians make sure that they will produce an abundance of goods and provisions for the needs of the whole nation, and any shortage in one region is supplied without charge by another that is well stocked. They further arrange to store sufficient surplus to supply the country for two […]

Summary and Analysis Book II: The Discourse on Utopia: Travel

Sir Thomas More

Summary Any of the natives who wish to travel outside of their own precincts but within the kingdom are required to secure a passport, though there is no difficulty in obtaining one — provided the individual is not needed in his trade at the time. Transportation is by ox-drawn cart […]

Summary and Analysis Book II: The Discourse on Utopia: Community Life

Sir Thomas More

Summary In the cities, every street houses 30 families, and these are presided over by a Syphogrant. In the middle of each street is a great hall for meeting and community dining. Outside of each city four large hospitals are provided, well equipped and well staffed. The Utopians take better […]

Summary and Analysis Book II: The Discourse on Utopia: Markets

Sir Thomas More

Summary The cities are divided into four equal sections, and in the middle of each are marketplaces, one for dispensing all kinds of food, another for dry goods and the like. All goods are free. A father takes home whatever is needed for his family. There is no reason for […]

Summary and Analysis Book II: The Discourse on Utopia: Population Control

Sir Thomas More

Summary The family is the foundational unit of their society. A family group ordinarily consists of three generations with between 10 and 16 persons, not counting their children. The senior male member is head of the family. The population of each city is maintained at about 6,000, and in the […]

Summary and Analysis Book II: The Discourse on Utopia: Occupations

Sir Thomas More

Summary In addition to knowledge and training in agricultural activities, which is shared by the entire population, each man and woman practices a special trade — such as cloth-making, masonry, carpentry, or blacksmithing. Women are chiefly occupied with making cloth and sewing, men with heavier types of work. Each family […]