Utopia
Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Political, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science
| Author: | Thomas More | ISBN: | 9780141392202 |
| Publisher: | Penguin Books Ltd | Publication: | August 30, 2012 |
| Imprint: | Penguin | Language: | English |
| Author: | Thomas More |
| ISBN: | 9780141392202 |
| Publisher: | Penguin Books Ltd |
| Publication: | August 30, 2012 |
| Imprint: | Penguin |
| Language: | English |
'Even if you can't eradicate harmful ideas or remedy established evils, that's no reason to turn your back on the body politic'
In Utopia, Thomas More gives us a traveller's account of a newly-discovered island where the inhabitants enjoy a social order based on natural reason and justice, and human fulfilment is open to all. As the traveller, Raphael, describes the island to More, a bitter contrast is drawn between this rational society and the custom-driven practices of Europe. So how can the philosopher try to reform his society? In his fictional discussion, More takes up a question first raised by Plato and which is still a challenge in the contemporary world. In the history of political thought few works have been more influential than Utopia, and few more misunderstood.
Dominic Baker-Smith's introduction examines the conflicting voices and perspectives of More's masterpiece and relates them to the European context of his time. This new edition also includes a chronology, notes, appendices, glossary and suggested further reading.
Translated and introduced by Dominic Baker-Smith
'Even if you can't eradicate harmful ideas or remedy established evils, that's no reason to turn your back on the body politic'
In Utopia, Thomas More gives us a traveller's account of a newly-discovered island where the inhabitants enjoy a social order based on natural reason and justice, and human fulfilment is open to all. As the traveller, Raphael, describes the island to More, a bitter contrast is drawn between this rational society and the custom-driven practices of Europe. So how can the philosopher try to reform his society? In his fictional discussion, More takes up a question first raised by Plato and which is still a challenge in the contemporary world. In the history of political thought few works have been more influential than Utopia, and few more misunderstood.
Dominic Baker-Smith's introduction examines the conflicting voices and perspectives of More's masterpiece and relates them to the European context of his time. This new edition also includes a chronology, notes, appendices, glossary and suggested further reading.
Translated and introduced by Dominic Baker-Smith
