　　在中国现代化的进程中，西方哲学社会科学始终是最重要的思想资源。然而，一个令人遗憾的事实是，自19 世纪末20 世纪初“西学东渐”起，国人对于西学的了解，基本上是凭借零星的翻译和介绍，认真地去读原著的人少之又少。这些中译本，囿于译者的眼光和水平，往往与原著出入颇大。因此，国人谈论西学的情景，很像是瞎子摸象，虽然各执一词，却皆不得要领。
　　当然，100年间，还是出现了一批学贯中西的学者，但其中肯花工夫于译业的太少。许多年积累下来，我们在这个领域拥有的优质中译本依然十分有限。而且，再好的译本，毕竟与原著隔了一层。倘若我们的学术界始终主要依靠中译本去了解和研究西学，我们的西学水平就永远不能摆脱可怜的境况。
　　好在现在有了改变这种境况的条件。在当今全球化时代，随着国门进一步开放，中外交流日渐增多，人们普遍重视英语学习，国人中尤其年轻人中具备阅读英文原著能力的人越来越多了。在这种形势下，本丛书应运而生。编辑者的计划是，选择西方哲学、人文学科、社会科学领域的最基本的英文经典原著，分批陆续出版，为有志者提供价廉的版本和阅读的便利。我赞赏这样的善举，并且相信，这也是为学术界做的一件益事。
　　周国平
　　2010年2月24日

内容简介

　　乌托邦的意思是“乌有之乡”，比喻无法实现的理想或空想的美好社会。在《英文学术名著：乌托邦（英文全本）》中，莫尔首次用“羊吃人”来揭露罪恶的“圈地运动”，并提出了公有制，讨论了以人为本、和谐共处、婚姻自由、安乐死、尊重女权、宗教多元等与现代人生活休戚相关的问题。

精彩书评

　　★倘若我们的学术界始终主要依靠中译本去了解和研究西学，我们的西学水平就永远不能摆脱可怜的境况。本丛书选择西方哲学、人文学科、社会科学领域的最基本的英文经典原著，分批陆续出版，我赞赏这样的善举，并且相信，这也是为学术做的一件益事。
　　——周国平

1 LIFE OF SIR THOMAS MORE
2 INTRODUCTION
3 DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAND
4 OF THEIR TOWNS
5 OF THEIR MAGISTRATES
6 OF THEIR TRADES
7 OF THEIR MANNER OF LIVING
8 OF THEIR TRAVELLING
9 OF THEIR TREASURE
10 OF THEIR MORALITY
11 OF THEIR LEARNING
12 OF THEIR SLAVES
13 OF THEIR MARRIAGES
14 OF THEIR LAWS
15 OF THEIR MILITARY DISCIPLINE
16 OF THE RELIGIONS
17 CONCLUSION

精彩书摘

　　These are their laws and rules in relation to robbery， and it is obvious that they are as advantageous as they are mild and gentle; since vice is not only destroyed and men preserved， but they are treated in such a manner as to make them see the necessity of being honest and of employing the rest of their lives in repairing the injuries they had formerly done to society. Nor is there any hazard of their falling back to their old customs; and so little do travellers apprehend mischief from them that they generally make use of them for guides from onejurisdiction to another; for there is nothing left them by which they can rob or be the better for it， since， as they are disarmed， so the very having of money is a sufficient conviction: and as they are certainly punished if discovered， so they cannot hope to escape; for their habit being in all the parts of it different from what is commonly worn， they cannot fly away， unless they would go naked， and even then their cropped ear would betray them. The only danger to be feared from them is their conspiring against the government; but those of one division and neighbourhood can do nothing to any purpose unless a general conspiracy were laid amongst all the slaves of the several jurisdictions， which cannot be done， since they cannot meet or talk together; nor will any venture on a design where the concealment would be so dangerous and the discovery so profitable. None are quite hopeless of recovering their freedom， since by their obedience and patience， and by giving good grounds to believe that they will change their manner of life for the future， they may expect at last to obtain their liberty， and some are every year restored to it upon the good character that is given of them.
　　When I had related all this， I added that I did not see why such a method might not be followed with more advantage than could ever be expected from that severe justice which the Counsellor magnified so much. To this he answered， "That it could never take place in England without endangering the whole nation." As he said this he shook his head， made some grimaces， and held his peace， while all the company seemed of his opinion， except the Cardinal， who said， "That it was not easy to form a judgment of its success， since it was a method that never yet had been tried; but if，" said he， "when sentence of death were passed upon a thief， the prince would reprieve him for a while， and make the experiment upon him， denying him the privilege of a sanctuary; and then， if it had a good effect upon him， it might take place; and， if it did not succeed， the worst would be to execute the sentence on the condemned persons at last; and I do not see，" added he， "why it would be either unjust， inconvenient， or at all dangerous to admit of such a delay; in my opinion the vagabonds ought to be treated in the same manner， against whom， though we have made many laws， yet we have not been able to gain our end."
　　……