Utopia

Thomas More's classic of political philosophy depicts an island society where all residents lives in harmony with one another.

Published in 1516, Utopia sees Sir Thomas More advances many tenets of what he views to be a perfect society. His use of the word 'utopia' as the name of the harmonious island nation he writes about entered the popular vernacular, and is now used to describe any society where life is perfect for all of its inhabitants.

More describes the social customs, means of transport, a lack of private property, trust between residents who do not lock their doors, a simple spartan lifestyle free of ostentation, a welfare state, free health care, a priesthood permitted to marry, and gender equality when it comes to matters of work. Those who commit crime are sentenced to slavery, with slaves also imported to carry out domestic duties in Utopia's households.