"The Geography of Utopia"
- How is the physical geography of Utopia important to its status as
an ideal nation state?
- What role does the rotation of the population between the city and
the countryside play?
"Their Cities, Especially Amaurot"
- How are the cities in Utopia organized? Who are the decision makers?
- Why the serious fortifications?
- What values does the rotation of homes enforce? What might be lost
here?
- Why is it a "capital offense" for citizens to consult together? Do
you believe this law is well founded?
"Their Work Habits"
- Which occupations are pursued by the Utopians? Which are shunned?
- In what way are labor-relations in Utopia progressive for More's
time?
- How may Utopians spend their leisure time?
- How is supply and demand in Utopia managed?
"Social and Business Relationships"
- How and why do the Utopians manage their population? To what end?
- What is the relationship between the Utopians and their colonies?
- How do they justify colonial imperialism?
- Who is responsible for butchering animals for food in Utopia? Why
this division of labor? Do you see any problems with this logic?
- Which jobs are apportioned to slaves and why?
- Which jobs are specifically set aside for women and why?
"Travel and Trade in Utopia"
- What freedoms and restrictions do the Utopians have in regards to
movement about the country?
- How are violations of the rules punished?
- When does Utopia engage in exportation of goods? How does the nation
use the proceeds?
"Their Gold and Silver"
- To what use do the Utopians put gold and silver? What is the philosophy
behind this choice?
"Their Moral Philosophy"
- What sort of education is general among the Utopians?
- How do they define "pleasure?" "Virtue?"
- What relationship do they see between religious faith and
virtuous behavior? Do you agree or disagree?
- What assumptions does this reveal about essential human nature?
- What is "false pleasure?" What examples are offered?
- What are the various classes and subclasses of "true pleasure?" What
role does health play?
"Their Delight in Learning"
- What does the Utopians connection to Greek tradition signify?
- How do they relate to the outside world?
"Slaves"
- What are the three classes of slaves in Utopia? How are they treated?
- What moral rationale does Raphael offer for this?
"Care of the Sick and Dying"
- How do the Utopians treat those who have "outlived" their own deaths?
- What measures do they take to determine that this is the case?
"Marriage Customs"
- Why the severe punishment for premarital intercourse?
- What is the particular "good" that is preserved though the preservation
of marriage?
- What's with all the nakedness?
- What is the punishment for adultery?
"Punishments, Legal Procedures, and Customs"
- How are other crimes punished?
- Which offences call for capital punishment?
- Who is least likely to be elected to public office in Utopia?
"Foreign Relations"
- How do the Utopians interact with their neighbors?
- Why no treaties or alliances?
"Warfare"
- Under what circumstances will the Utopians go to war?
- Under what circumstances will they not go to war?
- What strategies do they use to avoid all out warfare? Are these honorable?
Why or why not?
- When and why do the Utopians hire mercenaries? How do they pay for
them? What do they think of them as a people?
- For what reason is warfare a family affair?
"Religions"
- What kinds of religious freedoms are protected? What kinds are prohibited?
Why this distinction?
- What role do the Utopians feel reason plays in questions of faith?
- How do they feel faith influences behavior?
- Who are their priests? How are they chosen? What powers and responsibilities
do they have?
- Of whom do the Utopians beg forgiveness?
- Riddle me this: "Though no man owns anything, everyone is rich."
- How does Raphael argue that the lowest laborers should be compensated?
- Why is the abolition of money a necessity? What would be accomplished
thereby?
- With which of Raphael's positions does More have a problem? Why aren't
his objections elaborated upon?
- Does More within the text have the same opinions as More the author?
