Sir Thomas More invented the word “utopia” by blending words from Greek meaning “no place” as a title for his fictional work of political philosophy. The mythical island of Utopia is located in the New World. Raphael, a voyager, describes the customs of Utopia he observed for five years.  We learn that there are 54 cities each consisting of exactly 6,000 households arranged in groups of 30, each of which elects a representative, who then in turn elect a Prince, who serves for life. There is no private property. Dwellings are rotated. Meals are communal. Everyone wears the same simple clothes. Men and women are equals. Everyone works at agriculture and at a simple trade six hours a day. Each household has two slaves, who are either foreigners or criminals. There are no lawyers. Health care is free and euthanasia is allowed. Multiple religions are tolerated; atheism is allowed, but disdained. Priests can marry, couples may divorce, but premarital sex is punished by lifelong celibacy and adulterers are enslaved.  Written in Latin and published in 1516 in Belgium, the book was not published in England until the translation by Ralph Robinson appeared in 1551, sixteen years after More’s death.  Scholars are puzzled by More’s motives in writing Utopia, since many of the concepts put forth stand in direct opposition to his beliefs as a devout Catholic. Most see it as a satirical commentary on the evils of European society and as direct influence on later works such as Francis Bacon’s New Atlantis and Candide by Voltaire.

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