Difference between revisions of "Utopia"
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The [[word]] comes from the [[Greek]]: οὐ, "not", and τόπος, "place", indicating that More was utilizing the [[concept]] as [[allegory]] and did not consider such an [[ideal]] place to be realistically [[possible]]. The English homophone Eutopia, derived from the [[Greek]] εὖ, "good" or "well", and τόπος, "place", signifies a double [[meaning]]. | The [[word]] comes from the [[Greek]]: οὐ, "not", and τόπος, "place", indicating that More was utilizing the [[concept]] as [[allegory]] and did not consider such an [[ideal]] place to be realistically [[possible]]. The English homophone Eutopia, derived from the [[Greek]] εὖ, "good" or "well", and τόπος, "place", signifies a double [[meaning]]. | ||
| − | *Date: [ | + | *Date: [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_Century 1597] |
==Definitions== | ==Definitions== | ||
*1 : an [[imaginary]] and indefinitely remote place | *1 : an [[imaginary]] and indefinitely remote place | ||
| Line 11: | Line 11: | ||
*3 : an impractical [[scheme]] for social improvement | *3 : an impractical [[scheme]] for social improvement | ||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
| − | '''Utopia''' (pronounced /juːˈtoʊpiə/) is a [[name]] for an [[ideal]] [[community]] or [[society]], which is taken from [ | + | '''Utopia''' (pronounced /juːˈtoʊpiə/) is a [[name]] for an [[ideal]] [[community]] or [[society]], which is taken from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopia_(book) Of the Best State of a Republic, and of the New Island Utopia], a [[book]] [[written]] in 1516 by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Thomas_More Sir Thomas More] describing a [[fictional]] island in the Atlantic Ocean, possessing a seemingly [[perfect]] socio-politico-legal system. The term has been used to describe both [[intentional]] [[communities]] that attempted to create an [[ideal]] [[society]], and [[fictional]] [[societies]] portrayed in [[literature]]. It has spawned other [[concepts]], most prominently [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dystopia dystopia]. |
==Varieties== | ==Varieties== | ||
| − | Utopia is largely based on [ | + | Utopia is largely based on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plato Plato]'s [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_(Plato) Republic]. It is a [[perfect]] version of Republic wherein the [[beauties]] of [[society]] reign (eg: [[equality]] and a general pacifist [[attitude]]), although its [[citizens]] are all ready to fight if need be. The [[evils]] of [[society]], eg: [[poverty]] and misery, are all removed. It has few [[laws]], no lawyers and rarely sends its [[citizens]] to [[war]], but hires [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercenary mercenaries] from among its [[war]]-prone [[neighbors]] (these mercenaries were deliberately sent into dangerous situations in the [[hope]] that the more warlike [[populations]] of all surrounding countries will be weeded out, leaving peaceful peoples). The [[society]] [[encourages]] [[tolerance]] of all [[religions]]. Some [[readers]], including utopian socialists, have chosen to accept this [[imaginary]] [[society]] as the realistic [[blueprint]] for a working nation, while others have postulated More intended nothing of the sort. Some [[maintain]] the position that More's Utopia [[functions]] only on the level of a satire, a [[work]] intended to reveal more about the England of his time than about an [[idealistic]] [[society]]. This [[interpretation]] is bolstered by the title of the [[book]] and nation, and its apparent [[confusion]] between the Greek for "no place" and "good place": "Utopia" is a compound of the syllable ou-, meaning "no", and topos, meaning place. But the homophonic prefix eu-, meaning "[[good]]," also resonates in the word, with the implication that the perfectly "good place" is really "no place." |
| − | Another version of this concept is found in the [ | + | Another version of this concept is found in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panchaea Panchaea island], of the "Sacred History" book of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euhemerus Euhemerus], a [[writer]] from the 3rd century BC.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopia] |
[[Category: Political Science]] | [[Category: Political Science]] | ||
[[Category: Languages and Literature]] | [[Category: Languages and Literature]] | ||
Latest revision as of 02:41, 13 December 2020
Etymology
Utopia, imaginary and ideal country in Utopia (1516) by Sir Thomas More, from Greek ou not, no + topos place
The word comes from the Greek: οὐ, "not", and τόπος, "place", indicating that More was utilizing the concept as allegory and did not consider such an ideal place to be realistically possible. The English homophone Eutopia, derived from the Greek εὖ, "good" or "well", and τόπος, "place", signifies a double meaning.
- Date: 1597
Definitions
- 1 : an imaginary and indefinitely remote place
- 2 : often capitalized : a place of ideal perfection especially in laws, government, and social conditions
- 3 : an impractical scheme for social improvement
Description
Utopia (pronounced /juːˈtoʊpiə/) is a name for an ideal community or society, which is taken from Of the Best State of a Republic, and of the New Island Utopia, a book written in 1516 by Sir Thomas More describing a fictional island in the Atlantic Ocean, possessing a seemingly perfect socio-politico-legal system. The term has been used to describe both intentional communities that attempted to create an ideal society, and fictional societies portrayed in literature. It has spawned other concepts, most prominently dystopia.
Varieties
Utopia is largely based on Plato's Republic. It is a perfect version of Republic wherein the beauties of society reign (eg: equality and a general pacifist attitude), although its citizens are all ready to fight if need be. The evils of society, eg: poverty and misery, are all removed. It has few laws, no lawyers and rarely sends its citizens to war, but hires mercenaries from among its war-prone neighbors (these mercenaries were deliberately sent into dangerous situations in the hope that the more warlike populations of all surrounding countries will be weeded out, leaving peaceful peoples). The society encourages tolerance of all religions. Some readers, including utopian socialists, have chosen to accept this imaginary society as the realistic blueprint for a working nation, while others have postulated More intended nothing of the sort. Some maintain the position that More's Utopia functions only on the level of a satire, a work intended to reveal more about the England of his time than about an idealistic society. This interpretation is bolstered by the title of the book and nation, and its apparent confusion between the Greek for "no place" and "good place": "Utopia" is a compound of the syllable ou-, meaning "no", and topos, meaning place. But the homophonic prefix eu-, meaning "good," also resonates in the word, with the implication that the perfectly "good place" is really "no place."
Another version of this concept is found in the Panchaea island, of the "Sacred History" book of Euhemerus, a writer from the 3rd century BC.[1]
