Summary From every 30 families a magistrate is chosen each year to represent them in the government of the country. These were formerly called Syphogrants but are now entitled Philarchs. (Hythloday sometimes uses one designation and sometimes the other.) Over every ten Syphogrants is an official called either a Tranibor […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book II: The Discourse on Utopia: OfficialsSummary and Analysis Book II: The Discourse on Utopia: The Cities
Summary The plan of all of their cities is similar except for variations in topography; therefore, we can take the capital, Amaurot, as the model. It covers a piece of land 2 miles square on the bank of the Anider River, about 60 miles from the sea. The entire city […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book II: The Discourse on Utopia: The CitiesSummary and Analysis Book II: The Discourse on Utopia: Country Life
Summary Farmhouses are provided for agricultural communities, called “families,” including some 40 men and women plus two slaves. Thirty such families are presided over by a magistrate. There is an interesting arrangement for giving variety to occupational activities. Most people, after spending two years working in the country, are transferred […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book II: The Discourse on Utopia: Country LifeSummary and Analysis Book II: The Discourse on Utopia: Geographical Features of Utopia
Summary The island is approximately 200 miles by 500 miles, and is crescent shaped. A harbor is formed by the crescent that is 11 miles broad, but the entrance is dangerous to approach, hence easily defended. Originally this land was connected to the mainland, but an early ruler had a […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book II: The Discourse on Utopia: Geographical Features of UtopiaSummary and Analysis Book I: The Dialogue of Counsel: More Versus Hythloday on Public Service
Summary More acknowledges the justice of Hythloday’s opinions in terms of abstract theory, but he persists in his belief that Hythloday could and should engage in public affairs, attempting to modify the faulty practice of which he complains, even though he cannot expect full and immediate agreement on the part […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book I: The Dialogue of Counsel: More Versus Hythloday on Public ServiceSummary and Analysis Book I: The Dialogue of Counsel: The Council for Financial Affairs
Summary Another council meeting is imagined by Hythloday, this time a group of financial advisers to the king. Each speaker advocates a program for enriching the king’s treasure — one through the manipulation of currency values, one through increasing taxes on the pretext of an impending threat of war, one […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book I: The Dialogue of Counsel: The Council for Financial AffairsSummary and Analysis Book I: The Dialogue of Counsel: Hypothetical Meeting of the French Council
Summary More thanked Hythloday for the account of the Morton episode, which, he said, brings back pleasant memories for him, but he persists in his opinion that Hythloday could perform valuable service in the government. To reinforce his argument, he cites Plato’s belief that “nations will be happy, when either […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book I: The Dialogue of Counsel: Hypothetical Meeting of the French CouncilSummary and Analysis Book I: The Dialogue of Counsel: The Meeting at Cardinal Morton’s House
Summary The first point Hythloday makes in his denunciation of existing conditions is brought out in an account he gives of a meeting at the home of Cardinal Morton, Archbishop of Canterbury, when he was visiting in England. Hythloday had challenged one of Morton’s guests, a lawyer who boasted of […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book I: The Dialogue of Counsel: The Meeting at Cardinal Morton’s HouseSummary and Analysis Book I: The Dialogue of Counsel: Opening of the Discussion
Summary When Giles and More learn how many nations, primitive as well as civilized, Raphael Hythloday has visited, and recognize how seriously he has examined their several governments, they urge him to enter the council of some monarch in order to place his knowledge at the service of mankind. Hythloday […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book I: The Dialogue of Counsel: Opening of the DiscussionSummary and Analysis Book I: The Dialogue of Counsel: Setting the Stage
Summary The author relates how during his residence in the Low Countries on official business, he happened to encounter an acquaintance, Peter Giles, who was talking with a man of somewhat unusual appearance and dress. Giles introduced the stranger as Raphael Hythloday, explaining that he had many fascinating experiences to […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book I: The Dialogue of Counsel: Setting the Stage