Aristotle On Ridicule :: essays research papers

In book Four, Chapter Eight of the Ethics, Aristotle applies his philosophical ideals to the concept of humor and good company. He establishes categories and kinds of humor or wit, and sets limits for the behavior that a humans and a wise man will accept. At one point, however, he makes the admission that its hard to define when ridicule is appropriate. Because people react to ridicule in different ways, tally to their temperament.This paper will examine the second paragraph of Book Four, Chapter Eight, to determine what it is about ridicule that causes Aristotle to break away from his usual manner of analysis to consider other ways of looking at the hassle. Specifically, the question of why Aristotle says that propriety in ridicule eludes definition will be considered. The problem is that Aristotle defines ridicule in a later part of the same paragraph, in a way that seems non to admit any acceptable forms.When looking at good and bad company, Aristotle considers it entirely i n terms of entertaining conversation, such as humor, wit, or ridicule. He argues that adaptability in the way we talk to people is desirable, since thither is a time and a place for everything. The paragraph begins with indirect definitions of two extremes of humor, the buffoon and the humorless person. A buffoon would rather be a scratch and hurt peoples feelings than fail to raise a laugh. A man who never cracks a joke is also falling of a sudden of the appropriate behavior, which is the human races ability to give and take gentle humor in a conversation. A wit is someone whose pleasantries do not go too far, and is always ready with a witty remark or a pleasant joke...as to the middle state in traffic with the humorous,particularly characteristic of that is social tact oraddress, which may be defined as the gift of saying justthe right things for a gentleman to say and of getting others to say such things to him.This seems to be the meaning of good or bad company, where a per son gives and takes pleasure in conversation with others, according to the situation and the subject.Aristotle defines ridicule, he says that it is a form of abuse or slander, and slander in certain circumstances is prohibited by law. How can in that location be any propriety in a form of abuse or slander? Aristotle seems to avoid the contradiction, going on to say that the proper gentleman will regulate his own behavior.