“On Private Property, Riches, and Poverty” Discussion Questions

The article argues that private property is not a bad thing and that communal property (extreme egalitarianism) is not necessarily the way to create a harmonious society, in contrast to More’s Utopia. The article demonstrates this with the example of Jesus Christ and his followers. While Jesus requires all of his followers to give up private property in order to become his disciple, he does not admonish them for choosing not to.

1) Which contains a more persuasive argument, the article or Utopia?

2) Is it impossible to be wealthy in a utopian society? Consider different kinds of wealth.