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Thomas MoreEnglish humanist, state activist and writer; one of the founders of utopian socialism
Date of Birth: 07.02.1478
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
Biography of Thomas More
Thomas More (1478-1535) was an English humanist, statesman, and writer, and one of the founders of utopian socialism. He lived during a tumultuous period in England, characterized by palace intrigues, religious conflicts resulting from the Reformation, and the painful beginning of bourgeois development in the country. More received an excellent education and quickly became an authoritative lawyer. In 1499, he met the intellectual leader of Europe at that time, Erasmus of Rotterdam, during his first visit to England, and they immediately became close friends. In 1509, Erasmus wrote his famous "In Praise of Folly" in More's house. In 1518, More accepted an offer to join royal service. In 1521, More became the assistant treasurer of the kingdom and was knighted. In 1523, he was elected Speaker of the House of Commons. In 1529, More became Lord Chancellor, a unprecedented position for someone who was not a high-ranking church hierarch or part of the aristocracy.
The Execution and Legacy
On July 1, 1535, based on false testimony, More was found guilty of treason and was soon beheaded near the Tower of London. Approaching the scaffold, he said that he "dies as the faithful servant of the king, but first and foremost - God." More is primarily known for his famous work, "Utopia," which he wrote in Latin between 1515 and 1516. The first part of the book condemns many vices of contemporary society and satirically describes the absurdity of the laws of that time. The second part is a story told by the traveler Raphael Hythloday about an ideal social structure he discovered on the distant island of Utopia (literally translated as "no place"). In this part of the book, More develops ideals of social equality and justice. His work laid the foundation for a new genre - social utopia. Many elements from More's writings have been used in socialist and communist literature. One of Thomas More's famous quotes is, "We only appreciate goodness when we have lost it irretrievably."
