Thomas More’s Impact on Humanism and Socialism

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Thomas More’s Impact on Humanism and Socialism

The socialist movement began with the coining of the term in 1832 in France, concurrently with the revolution in England (Birth of the Socialist Idea). Thomas More was born in 1478 and Utopia was published over 300 years before this uprising, yet there is much parallelism in Thomas More’s humanism and the socialism that is moderately practiced throughout the world. DEFINITION OF HUMANISM (ENGLISH BOOK), whereas socialism is a societal and governmental system based on equality and social justice that requires government intervention in economic affairs (Socialism). This is where the differences end. Although socialism was not defined as an ideology, Thomas More’s lifestyle, along with the values, norms, and laws implemented in the fabricated culture of Utopia, coincide with aspects of socialism, illustrating the progression of humanism into socialism by the subliminal visionary on the humanist movement.

More’s life portrays inadvertent correlations to socialist characteristics. One trait of socialism is adhering to non-violent restraint (Democratic Socialism). More displays this in his well-formed, diplomatic defense on his trial of refusing to acknowledge King Henry VIII’s declaration of supremacy of the Church of England (Utopia & Utopian Literature). This is a representation of peaceful restraint that was incorporated into More’s life; because of his strong religious background, he does not believe in warfare and the better way to prove him is through facts and educated arguments. Another aspect of socialism is the emphasis on the working class (Democratic Socialism). More exemplifies this when he became a patron of the poor after his father was thrown in jail (Jokinen). This s...

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...Literature: Sir Thomas More Biography: Life of Sir Thomas More - CliffsNotes." Get Homework Help with CliffsNotes Study Guides - CliffsNotes. Web. 22 Mar. 2010. .

Jokinen, Anniina. "The Life of Sir Thomas More (1478-1535) [Biography for the Tudor Writer, Statesman, Philosopher, and Advisor to King Henry VIII]." Luminarium: Anthology of English Literature. Web. 22 Mar. 2010. .

Loughran, Hugh. "Catholic Insight : Saints : Thomas More and John Fisher: Declared Saints Seventy Years Ago." Catholic Insight Home. July & Aug. 2005. Web. 22 Mar. 2010. .

More, Thomas. Utopia. Trans. Clarence H. Miller. Yale UP, 2001. Print.

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