What More Can I Say?

Thomas More’s idea of Utopia was interesting and had a lot to say about the political happenings in England during the sixteenth century.  I love the amount of irony laced into the text, beginning with the title actually meaning “no place” rather than “a place of ideal perfection” that we take it to mean nowadays. 

One specific thing that I found puzzling was More’s philosophies on pleasure, stating that one should live for it and do that which gives them pleasure above all else.  Because he was such a devout catholic it is interesting that he has the standpoint he does.   Coming from a pretty intense Catholic family, this is not a typical belief because a big part of the religion is restraint and sacrifice.  However, as it all started coming together, I found his views on pleasure to be quite fascinating and pretty spot on.  More really shines new light on the differences between “true pleasure” and “counterfeit pleasure.”  It is interesting because it can still be applied to our ideals of pleasure today; “counterfeit pleasures” are things which result in immediate, but not substantial, happiness and that all people should do their best not to give into it.  I think what I find interesting is how More was able to put into words what people have been struggling with for centuries.