In Reply to: More an "ultra-conservative?" Hardly. posted by tinear on March 20, 2008 at 10:43:16:
tinear,
Yes, in my view, More was an ultra-conservative in that he was a religious fundamentalist. His objections to Henry's usurping of Church authority from the Pope derived the idea that Popes were "descended" spiritually from St. Peter in an unbroken line and of course, he was admimant on Papal infallibility. You're correct that More makes statements against private property in "Utopia", in favour of the kind of "monastic communalism" you mention, but this was a detail in support of his ideal World as a complete marriage- without the possibility of divorce- of politics and religion. There would be some latitude of multiple religions, but atheists were a lower cateogry of citizen without most of the society's rights- including the communal food. Though More mentions positive aspects of Plato, "Utopian" politics were hierarchical as a meritocracy and not Classically Platonic nor democratic. His objections to property were based on the poverty of Christ- see Franciscans- and More was advocating that for the best possible world that the population as much as possible should emulate the life of Jesus.
If More were alive today in the US, he would almost surely be pro- divine right of rule, anti-choice, anti-gay, anti-sex (premarital sex would be a crime), and especially anti-Church and State separation. More also doesn't make any protests against slavery and every household would have them. -Except for the unlimited greed, the current primacy of private property over life, and the promotion of war for profit- a perfect fundamentalist.
Chees,
Bambi B
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Follow Ups
- Thomas More an "ultra-conservative?" Yes ! - Bambi B 11:18:56 03/20/08 (5)
- I'm not too sure about More... - mpathus 23:13:36 03/20/08 (1)
- RE: Agreed: Give to Caesar what is Caesars, - grinagog 02:30:25 03/21/08 (0)
- NOT! How does 16th Century Catholic orthodoxy translate into 20th century political Ultra-Conservativism??? - Harmonia 22:18:39 03/20/08 (1)
- The bull (Papal?) now has but one eye. Good shooting! nt - tinear 11:20:56 03/21/08 (0)
- Those are three pretty big "excepts." He's hard to pigeon hole. To - tinear 17:25:39 03/20/08 (0)