Utopia Definition Encyclopedia Britannica
Adapted from such reformers as robert owen and charles fourier utopian socialism drew from early communist and socialist ideas.
Utopia definition encyclopedia britannica. Utopia portrayed an ideal society in a hypothetical no place so that more would be perceived. The idea of a utopia is often found in literature but over the years religious and political factions have attempted to create such living conditions in various communities. A utopia is an ideal or perfect place. Many utopias are satires that ridicule existent conditions rather than offering practical solutions for them.
A utopia is an ideal place where the people exist under seemingly perfect conditions. Sir thomas more s learned satire utopia 1516 the title is based on a pun of the greek words eutopia good place and outopia no place shed an analytic light on 16th century england along rational humanistic lines. Encyclopaedia britannica s editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Utopia is a greek name of more s coining from ou topos no place.
The word first appeared in a book written by sir thomas more in the 1500s. The word suggests that though no ideal community exists people can create one by working together. Genre such as the fictional utopia seems odd. More s utopia describes a pagan and communist city state in which the institutions and policies are entirely governed by reason.
In this class are jonathan swift s gulliver s travels 1726 and samuel butler s erewhon 1872. A pun on eu topos good place is suggested in a prefatory poem. According to the socialist view individuals do not live or work in isolation but live in cooperation with one another. More came up with utopia by combining greek words meaning no place.
From the publication of thomas more s eponymous utopia 1516 however satire has been an important ingredient of utopian fiction. Science fiction science fiction utopias and dystopias. Utopia utopia satirical and dystopian works. More drew heavily on the satire of horace juvenal and lucian in composing his great work.
Socialism social and economic doctrine that calls for public rather than private ownership or control of property and natural resources. For example like a poem by horace.