1. Utopia: An Ideal Vision?
“No-Place-Land”

2. Utopia:
an imaginary island described in Sir Thomas More's Utopia (1516) as enjoying perfection in law, politics, etc.
an ideal place or state.
any visionary system of political or social perfection.

3. "Utopia" is derived from the Greek words ou (οὐ), "not", and topos (τόπος), "place"; hence Outopía means
"no-place-land".

4. Plato’s The Republic Written around 380 BC
Most famous work written by Plato
Philosophy and political theory
Socratic dialogue
Presents the idea of justice and the conditions necessary for a just city-state
Socrates questions the meaning of justice
Poses a hypothetical city ruled by philosopher-kings
Theory of ideal forms
Immortality and the soul
“The Allegory of the Cave”—Presents the idea of a utopia

6. Sir Thomas More’s Utopia

7. Do a little online research about the idea of utopia
Do a little online research about the idea of utopia. Consult Sir Thomas More’s famous treatise Utopia at or read a general introduction to utopia on Wikipedia.
What do you think a utopia is dependent on? Remember since this is an “ideal or visionary” concept, your response should be visionary.

8. “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” by Ursula LeGuin
Ursula LeGuin bases her definition of utopia on the idea of sacrifice. How is her idea of utopia dependent on sacrifice? Why is the story titled “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas”? What is her point?