Utopia (More book)
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| - | {{Template}}'''''De Optimo Reipublicae Statu deque Nova Insula Utopia''''' (translated '''''On the Best State of a Republic and on the New Island of Utopia''''') or more simply '''''Utopia''''' is a [[1516]] book by Sir (Saint) [[Thomas More]]. | + | {{Template}} |
| + | '''''De Optimo Reipublicae Statu deque Nova Insula Utopia''''' (translated '''''On the Best State of a Republic and on the New Island of Utopia''''') or more simply '''''Utopia''''' is a [[1516]] book by Sir (Saint) [[Thomas More]]. | ||
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| + | The book, written in [[Latin]], is a [[frame narrative]] primarily depicting a fictional [[island]] society and its [[religious]], social and political customs. The name of the place is derived from the Greek words {{Polytonic|οὐ}} ''u'' ("not") and {{Polytonic|τόπος}} ''tópos'' ("place"), with the topographical suffix {{Polytonic|-εία}} ''eía'', hence {{Polytonic|Οὐτοπεία}} ''outopeía'' (Latinized as ''Utopia''), “no-place land.” It also contains a [[pun]], however, because “Utopia” could also be the Latinization of {{Polytonic|Εὐτοπεία}} ''eutopeía'', “good-place land,” which uses the Greek prefix {{Polytonic|ευ}} ''eu'', “good,” instead of {{Polytonic|οὐ}}. One interpretation holds that this suggests that while Utopia might be some sort of perfected society, it is ultimately unreachable. Despite modern connotations of the word "utopia," it is widely accepted that the [[society]] More describes in this work was not actually his own "perfect society." Rather he wished to use the contrast between the imaginary land's unusual political ideas and the chaotic politics of his own day as a platform from which to discuss social issues in [[Europe]]. | ||
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| + | What probably first suggested the idea for ''Utopia'' to Thomas More was his work with [[Erasmus]], when they jointly translated some of [[Lucian]]'s works from [[Greek language|Greek]] into Latin. Among these [[dialogue]]s, one involved the story of [[Menippus]], the Greek playwright, descending into the underworld and describing what he found there. The other significant influence was [[Plato]]'s ''[[Republic (dialogue)|Republic]]'', which is a far more politically motivated work about imaginary lands; it is referred to several times in ''Utopia''. | ||
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De Optimo Reipublicae Statu deque Nova Insula Utopia (translated On the Best State of a Republic and on the New Island of Utopia) or more simply Utopia is a 1516 book by Sir (Saint) Thomas More.
The book, written in Latin, is a frame narrative primarily depicting a fictional island society and its religious, social and political customs. The name of the place is derived from the Greek words Template:Polytonic u ("not") and Template:Polytonic tópos ("place"), with the topographical suffix Template:Polytonic eía, hence Template:Polytonic outopeía (Latinized as Utopia), “no-place land.” It also contains a pun, however, because “Utopia” could also be the Latinization of Template:Polytonic eutopeía, “good-place land,” which uses the Greek prefix Template:Polytonic eu, “good,” instead of Template:Polytonic. One interpretation holds that this suggests that while Utopia might be some sort of perfected society, it is ultimately unreachable. Despite modern connotations of the word "utopia," it is widely accepted that the society More describes in this work was not actually his own "perfect society." Rather he wished to use the contrast between the imaginary land's unusual political ideas and the chaotic politics of his own day as a platform from which to discuss social issues in Europe.
What probably first suggested the idea for Utopia to Thomas More was his work with Erasmus, when they jointly translated some of Lucian's works from Greek into Latin. Among these dialogues, one involved the story of Menippus, the Greek playwright, descending into the underworld and describing what he found there. The other significant influence was Plato's Republic, which is a far more politically motivated work about imaginary lands; it is referred to several times in Utopia.
