Thomas More

BiographyBorn February 4, 1478 Studied at Oxford under

Thomas Linacre and William Grocyn

Wrote comedies and studied Greek and Latin literature.

Earned a reputation of being a humanist throughout his life.

Coined the term “utopia”.

Torn between his two loves:Monastic CallingLife of civil service

Determined to become a monk.

Practiced the monastic life of praying, fasting and penance habits, which stayed with him for the rest of his life.

Politics WonMonasticism was finally overcome by his urge to serve his country. Entered Parliament in 1504.Honest man/Effective Public Servant1517- King’s personal servant1521- Became secretary for Henry VIII. Increasingly influencial on gov., working with foreign policies and official documents.1523- Speaker of House of Commons

1525- Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster- gave him control over much of northern England.

End of Political CareerKing Henry VIII claimed to be the Supreme Head of the Church of England….More refused to accept that.Refused to attend the coronation of Anne Boleyn as Queen.

Him and the King were not on the best of terms. More was tried several times; was charged with accepting bribes and being “snub” towards Anne.

1535- Charged with high treason for denying the validity of the Act of Succession.Sentenced to be executed b y the King.

Utopia

: an imaginary place considered to be perfect or ideal A fictional novel about an imaginary island nation, where all the political arrangements are basically perfect.

Compares the European states to the orderliness and perfection of the island.More theorizes that if a man did not believe in God or an afterlife of any kind he could never be trusted as he would not be logically driven to acknowledge any authority or principles outside himself.

Utopia

Utopia

Bears evidence that More place value on harmony and order.

Challenges to uniformity were perceived as dangers.

Most important thingMaintaining the unity of Christendom.

“...no penalty on earth will stop people from stealing, if it's their only way of getting food.”

More had a big disagreement with capital punishment. A man guilty of murder was executed. However, a man who was caught stealing food or anything, was also executed.

This statement was a direct attack on the English class system. (wealthy and peasantry)

There can never be a society that exists comfortably.

In UtopiaMain purpose of Utopians

There is not one ruler System of elected persons

who ensure the welfare of the community.

Allows people to voice their own opinions.

No living creature is naturally greedy.

Everyone is granted everything equal. No concept of superiority.

Do declare war, but only if there is a just reason. (avenging wrong doings)

Pleasure Work as little as possible

Want to spend most of their time expanding their minds.

Maintaining their health. Without a healthy

body, you can’t feel the ultimate pleasure.

Not only the wealthy can feel pleasure.

Statements By Thomas More

No Place Marriage is an authentic weaving

together of families, of two souls with their individual fates and destinies, of time and eternity - everyday life married to the timeless mysteries of the soul.

An absolutely new idea is one of the rarest things known to man.

An enchanted world is one that speaks to the soul, to the mysterious depths of the heart and imagination where we find value, love, and union with the world around us. As mystics of many religions have taught, that sense of rapturous union can give a sensation of fulfilment that makes life purposeful and vibrant.