Thomas More in Utopia presents a view of human nature which is far more positive than negative. While he certainly shows an awareness of the flaws in human beings, he attributes those flaws more to the environment, and political and socioeconomic factors, than to the nature of humanity. In other words, More shows that human nature can be altered by altering the environment. If the environment is improved, meaning socially, politically and economically, then the behavior of human beings will be improved, bringing out the best in human nature.
Many other fictional "utopias", such as 1984 and Brave New World, are more intent on critiquing the attempts to perfect humanity and human society, and demonstrating the dangers and ultimate destructiveness of those efforts. More, on the other hand, believes in his utopia and the betterment of humanity and human behavior through the manipulation of the social environment. Unlike most other utopian writers, More is not cynical about human nature and is not skeptical about efforts to bring out the best in that nature.
More believed human nature to be good, created by God, and susceptible to great improvement if social, political and economic conditions were reformed so that human misery were eliminated and fundamental human virtue were thereby liberated and nurtured. More believed in socialism insofar as it would eliminate private property, which he saw as the root of evil. He believed that when private property exists, and when money dominates all other considerations, then "it is hardly ever possible for a commonwealth to be governed justly or happily." More believes that justice simply cannot exist when the "worst citizens" own the "best things," or "where property is limited to a few." In such a situation, those who have so much are "always uneasy," fearing they will have it taken, and those who have so little "are utterly wretched" (More 38). Where there is no justice, people will belie...