Living in worlds that never were

摘要

On an island off the coast of the New World - then still a place remote and enticing - sat an ideal city state called Utopia, the fictional creation of English statesman and philosopher Thomas More in 1516. Inspired by Plato's Republic (c.380 BC), More was interested in devising the perfect state: one without conflict, corruption or hardship. His Utopia is a highly structured society with mayors, councils, district controllers and slaves. Its citizens work six hours a day, and spend most of their free time on self-improvement.