Utopia Book I - pages 1 - 12, 24 - 27 PDF

Preview

Summary

pages 1 - 12, 24 - 27...

Description

Utopia: Book I Summary

Book I: 1 - 12 Thomas More (main character) arrives in Antwerp on a business trip where he runs into a friend, Peter Giles, and meets Raphael Hythloday (philosopher). -

Thomas More is on official “King’s Business” when he ends up in Antwerp (Europe).

Raphael has traveled with Amerigo Vespucci - the guy who traveled the same time as Columbus and named America (Thomas More retells his story). -

When traveling, they met a ton of interesting , including an unidentified prince.

-

They make friends with countries and sail around with them.

-

They used a compass to get them around.

-

Raphael answers questions on how other “civilized nations” do things.

Raphael’s thoughts on being working for the king: -

He has already been super generous to his family so he doesn't need to become a “slave” to the king. -

-

Advice and being a slave is the same thing in Raphaels mind…

Giles thinks helping the king is helping the people, but Raphael is like no, if he worked for the king he would be just trying to please him and pander the people.

-

Kings like war, Raphael does not. Kings are way too into themselves, they don’t listen to anyone else. Advising kings is actually flattering them. They only focus on being the best rather than being inspired by new ideas. They don’t care about new ideas, the old way is the best way.

Raphael thinks executing robbers is just wrong because people are stealing because they are desperate. -

Other people (the lawyer) think they can farm but Raphael mentions the disabled, veterans, etc that are unable to do it themselves.

-

The lawyer thinks that they should just become soldiers then. Raphael was like no, wars are not happening 24/7, what should they do the rest of the time?

-

He thinks France is stupid for always having an army ready (Roman history - attacking own country when bored).

-

Thieves are happening because farming is essentially a monopoly and people are doing it for survival. -

Executing thieves looks like justice but its not. It goes against the ten commandments.

Book I: 24 - 27 Raphael is totally convinced that we need to get rid of the private property in order for equality to exist and for people to be happy. Except only the rich hold positions so nothing will be changed (vicious cycle). -

Laws could help but it does not cure the real issue of private property.

-

More disagrees because he thinks it people share everything, how can they be happy. People would stop working because everything is shared and then there would be chaos. Also, who would be in charge?

Raphael says how More has not experienced a Utopia. The only reason he left is to tell the world what a great country looks like. -

Giles is skeptical… What country is better run than Europe? They have been around longer.

-

Raphael says Utopia was around long before Europe.

-

More and Giles are super intrigued with the island of Utopia so they are going to discuss it at lunch later....