#920
Mentioned in 37 episodes

Utopia

Book • 1901
Written in 1516, 'Utopia' by Sir Thomas More is a seminal work of fiction that presents an ideal society on a fictional island.

The book is divided into two parts: the first critiques the social and economic issues of early 16th-century England, while the second introduces the Utopian society as a potential solution.

Utopia is characterized by communal property, no class distinctions or poverty, little crime, religious freedom, and a strict egalitarian system.

More uses this imaginary society to highlight the flaws of European politics and society of his time, advocating for a more just and equal world.

The work is notable for its influence on later socialist and communist thought and continues to be a subject of discussion in political theory and philosophy.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 37 episodes

Referenced as a historical depiction of utopia containing both desirable properties and moral mistakes.
110 snips
We're Not Ready for AGI (with Will MacAskill)
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Dorian Lynskey
as the most famous example of a pre-socialist imaginary world.
99 snips
The Birth of Socialism – A Better World is Possible
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Dominic Sandbrook
when discussing proto-Marxist ideas.
76 snips
38. Communism
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Josh Clark
as a well-known voice against enclosure.
55 snips
The Fencing Of The Commons
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Josh
Clark when explaining how the concept of prison labor originated.
53 snips
The Brutal History of Prison Labor
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Tom Holland
in the context of the concept of utopia and its relation to the discovery of the Americas.
52 snips
315: Atlantis: Legacy of the Lost Empire (Part 2)
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Daniel Schreiber
when talking about a happy ending.
50 snips
How Economies Survive After AI Wins - with Daniel Schreiber
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C.R. Wiley
when reading a letter criticizing Peter Thiel and Sam Wolf's interpretation of Francis Bacon.
39 snips
The Unintended Consequences of "Knowledge is Power"
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Andrew Lambert
as a book about a people who live on the coast of South America, who read ancient Greek and start printing in ancient Greek.
38 snips
The Men of the 20th Century Lost the Plot | Interview: Andrew Lambert
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Rudyard Lynch
, referencing a utopian society run by scientific social engineers where caring for the group is the shared religion.
33 snips
Explaining the Rise + Fall of Modern Britain

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