St. Thomas More (St. Thomas More, February 7, 1478 - July 6, 1535) was born in London, England. His father was a judge. Because More lost his mother when he was young, he was strict. His father raised him. When he was 13 years old, More stayed at the home of Cardinal Morton, Archbishop of Canterbray, as a young guard. At the age of 14, More entered Oxford University to study classical literature, learned Greek, and was deeply influenced by ancient Greek philosophy. However, two years later, Moore was forced by his father to leave Oxford University and entered the New Law School (NewInn) to study law. He also studied English law at Lincoln Law School (LinconsInn). In 1496, at the age of 18, More was admitted to the Lincoln Law Society and became a solicitor in 1501. Moore later served as a member of Parliament, Deputy Minister of Finance, Speaker of the House of Commons, and Lord Chancellor. He was executed in 1535 for opposing Henry VIII's appointment as head of the church. He is the founder of the early utopian socialist theory in Europe, a talented humanist scholar and an experienced politician. He is famous in history for his famous book "Utopia".

1. Life Anecdotes

After King Henry VIII of England came to power, More was deeply favored and began to rise rapidly. In 1518, he was appointed President of the Royal Court of Appeal and Privy Councilor. . In 1521, he was appointed deputy finance minister and was knighted. Nominated by Justice Thomas Wolsey in 1523, More was elected Speaker of the House of Commons. In 1525, he was appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. In 1529, he replaced Wolsey as Lord Chancellor of England. The most important person in the King of England. More's reputation grew day by day, and the king held him in high esteem, inviting him to dine with him informally, and studying mathematics and astronomy with him, but More was not honored by this. When someone congratulated him on being favored by the king, he replied: "If More's head really allows him to gain possession of any insignificant French city, this head will definitely fall to the ground." More knew the character of Henry VIII. Capricious and callous. In 1530, the nobility and prelates of England jointly wrote to the Pope asking him to declare the marriage of Henry VIII and Anne invalid. More did not sign the letter. He believed that Catherine should be the king's real wife. He opposed the religious reform in England. Although he also criticized the corruption of Catholicism, he advocated internal reform of the Catholic Church and advocated the use of a conference of representatives of the whole church to limit the power of the pope. He believed that Europe should be maintained by a unified church to reduce the scourge of war. More resigned as chancellor in 1532. Henry VIII was deeply angry at More's indifference and betrayal of trust. In 1533, Henry VIII remarried, and More refused to attend the coronation ceremony. The following year, the House of Representatives passed the Supremacy Act, declaring Henry VIII as the supreme head of the Church of England, and all subjects across the country were required to swear an oath to recognize it. More refused to take the oath and was imprisoned in the Tower of London. During more than a year in prison, he refused to take the oath three times. While in prison, More once said to his friend Norfolk, "I have thought about it again and again, but I cannot go against my conscience. The price of freedom is indeed high. High. However, even the lowest slave can enjoy freedom if he is willing to pay the price." In the end, More was convicted of treason, and Henry VIII changed the sentence of dismemberment to execution. When More learned the news, he loudly said: "Please God protect my relatives and friends from such favors." This joke is a mockery of Henry VIII's autocratic tyranny. On July 6, 1535, he walked onto the guillotine. Before his execution, he humorously said to the warden: "Please help me get up. As for getting down, I have arranged it myself." The next day, More's head was hung in London. Displayed on the bridge.

2. Philosophical Quotes

All the best things fall into the hands of the worst people, while the rest are poor.

Wherever private ownership exists and all people measure everything based on cash value, it will be difficult for a country to have justice and prosperity.

A life without spiritual creation is worthless and not worth living.

Utopians are particularly unwilling to let go of spiritual happiness, which is the first and most important of all happiness.

Spiritual joy comes from the practice of virtue and the self-awareness of a noble life.

3. Main ideas

Moore believed that in a "public" economy without private ownership, people are humble and simple, and their daily labor is not for personal gain, but for Work for the welfare of society, but regard economic standards as the basis for human self-realization. More ruthlessly criticized all old feudal autocratic political systems, and believed that a political system that can benefit the people should be a system with a high degree of democracy and rule of law, and reasonable political principles are not for the rulers themselves, but for the majority of people. the people. Utopian democracy is reflected in all aspects and is universal democracy, and this democratic system shows free people who are not oppressed by tyranny and the true masters who control their own destiny. Regarding religious beliefs, More adopted an extremely tolerant attitude. He gave a very high status to ethics and morality that are in line with the interests of the whole society, especially the lower class people. He regarded a life of perfect ethics and morality as "a life in line with nature" and believed that people The inclination towards this kind of life is dictated by "reason." Ethics or virtues that follow the instructions of "reason" are a kind of religious belief that can benefit the entire society and nation.

References:

Get app, Fu Peirong’s Western philosophy class;

Liu Wenyi, on the humanistic thought in Thomas More’s “Utopia”, Frontier, 2016.6?.