Utopia

Overview Meaning of Utopia Biography: Sir Thomas More Summary of the book Utopia Utopia & Dystopia Meaning and importance today

Meaning of „Utopia“ Utopia utopia from Greek: Book written by Sir Thomas More Year: 1516 Written in Latin utopia from Greek: u  not tópos  place no-place land or good-place land

Meaning of „Utopia“ Utopia  name for an ideal community Sometimes pejoratively used Impossible to achieve Also: synonym for an ideal concept or an unrealistic vision

“The Earthly Paradise” | Garden of Eden

Meaning of Utopia Types of utopias: Social Utopia egalitarian distribution no money Religious Utopia Gardens of Delight / existence free from worry / Scientific and technological utopia absence of death, suffering, diseases, …

Meaning of Utopia | Religious Utopia

Meaning of Utopia | Scientific Utopia Flying machines of the previous century

Biography | Sir Thomas More Born: February 7th, 1478 in London Died: July 6th, 1535 also London Time of Humanism and Renaissance

Biography | Sir Thomas More Portrait by Hans Holbein the Younger (1527)

Biography | Sir Thomas More Humanism Tolerance Nonviolence The Importance of the individual Renaissance from “re-” (again) and “nascere” (be born) Revive of ancient world (Antike)

Biography | Sir Thomas More Son of a Judge Visits Latin school in London Later: studies Latin and Greek Becomes succesful lawyer and jurist 1504: Member of Parliament Disagrees with King Henry VII

Biography | Sir Thomas More King Henry VII

Biography | Sir Thomas More 26 Years: Marries Joan Colt 5 children 32 Years: Marries Alice Middleton 1 child 1516: Writes first Utopia-book 1517: Work for King HenryVIII 1521: Becomes a knight

Biography | Sir Thomas More Family More

Biography | Sir Thomas More Political Success: 1523: Speaker of Parliament 1529: Lord Chancellor (= Prime Minister) 1534: Did not accept King Arrested in Tower of London Executed on July 6th 1535

Biography | Sir Thomas More

Biography | Sir Thomas More Tower of London

Biography | Sir Thomas More Thomas More was: Very succesful advocate Christian believer and supporter of Vatican Humanist / Fought for human rights Most important work: Utopia  vision of tolerant and good world

Summary | Utopia Cover Page of edition from 1516

Summary | Utopia 2 Parts of book Narrations of a sailor 1st: Criticism of political and social system 2nd: Description of the Island Utopia Narrations of a sailor Utopia: Happy and harmonic families Collective dining

Summary | Utopia Democratic System No personal property Daily work: 6 hours School attendance for children Public / scientific lectures  very popular

Summary | Utopia Map of Utopia

Summary | Utopia Criminals bought from foreign countries Have to do forced labor or have to fight in wars Religious Tolerance Important Decisions: Popular Votes

Summary | Utopia Ironic elements: Thomas More: Utopia is Question in beginning of the book: Does Utopia exist? No-Place or Good-Place Land Thomas More: Utopia is “desirable but impossible“

Utopia  Dystopia Dystopia  contrary to Utopia from Greek: anti-utopia Pessimistic view/attitude to future Negative or bad conditions

Utopia  Dystopia Utopia Dystopia Society Equality of all people Classes, caste system View on future Optimistic, upbeat Pessimistic, downbeat Form of government Democracy Regime Education Equal and advancing education Propaganda Economy No money, equal distribution of goods Rich and poor people, no middle class Legislation Fair system of punishment Unfair and excessive punishment Atmosphere Happy, harmonic families Unfortunate, unlucky people

Utopia  Dystopia Problems of Dystopia: Breakdown of the system Regime Corruption Inforcement and violence Diseases, poorness and lack of goods Breakdown of the system

Meaning / Importance today UTOPIA not only but also Book Generally definition that Utopia became an ideal was so formative

Meaning / Importance today Films Logan‘s Run (1976) Fahrenheit 451 (1966) … Utopian/Dystopian Novels The New Atlantis (Francis Bacon | 1627) He, She and It (Marge Piercy | 1991)

Meaning / Importance today Logan‘s Run (1976) Nobody lives past the age of 35 There are no old people People who reach the age  painlessly done away with

Meaning / Importance today Fahrenheit 451 (1966) Books are banned Nobody is allowed to read Fire brigade burns books Prescribed life  Group of people which illegally read books

Meaning / Importance today

Meaning / Importance today The New Atlantis (Francis Bacon | 1627) Vision of an ideal country Education and lots of knowledge Plan and organization of an ideal college Solomon‘s House Modern technology and science

Meaning / Importance today He, She and It (Marge Piercy| 1991) Science-Fiction-Novel Creating Illegal Cyborgs World controlled by computers and technology

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