Thomas More's Perfect World

Humanism, is defined as “an outlook or system of thought attracting prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters.” The goal of humanism was to focus on the development of human virtue, Thomas More, expressed his outlook in his piece Utopia, 1516. Which is famously identified as a classic product of Renaissance humanism. In More’s perfect world, every citizen would have the same high morals and every member would see the good in others. Every citizen was expected to work and contribute in some way to the society. More saw all of the citizens working as a sign of equality in his Utopia. Despite having varying jobs and even More himself, doubting the importance of value of women's jobs. More admitting that, “Women generally do little” (More 12). He saw women …show more content…
More desired a common language and had imagined a society with literacy for both genders. Even outside of his Utopia, he helped his wife and daughters receive an education. Despite having an education, they were still held to the standard of fulfilling the gender assigned roles of the time. All of his daughters from his first marriage, and even the daughter from the second marriage that wasn’t his own where given an education. He still held the expectation that they were to be married off and then to attend to the children. More additionally, explained how there were laws, but they were not necessary. Most citizens obeyed the laws because they held themselves to a high standard. They were afraid of the consequences and they were not willing to take chances. The citizens in his Utopia, all were held to a high moral standard and they held themselves accountable. Another example of humanism in More’s text was the belief in agriculture. More believed that the Utopia could successfully farm all the necessities for feeding the society. The farming would not only serve as a necessary supply, but it would also provide more people with