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How did private property work in the society described in Utopia?
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Thomas More
Sir Thomas More, oil on panel by Hans Holbein the Younger, 1527; in the Frick Collection, New York City.
In Thomas More's Utopia, the concept of private property is entirely absent, as the society is organized around the principle of communal ownership. More presents this system as a remedy for the egoism, pride, envy, and greed that he observed in the societies of his time.123
Key features of this communal system include:
- Common Assets: Land and houses are held as common property. Citizens rotate their residences every 10 years to prevent anyone from developing a sense of possessiveness or pride in their living space.2
- Abolition of Money: Currency has been eliminated, and individuals are free to take what they need from common storehouses.2
- Labor and Consumption: All citizens work, often on communal farms, and they consume according to their needs. Because the society lives simply, citizens only need to work a few hours a day to meet their requirements, leaving ample time for leisure.12
By removing the institution of private property, More envisioned a state where the focus shifts from individual accumulation to the collective well-being of the community.12