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 dear(p) comp any(prenominal). He establishes categories and kinds of humor or wit, and sets limits for the behavior that a sluttishman and a wise man depart accept. At one point, however, he makes the opening that its hard to define when guy is appropriate. Because people react to ridicule in different ways, according to their temperament.This paper will examine the jiffy paragraph of Book Four, Chapter Eight, to determine what it is about ridicule that causes Aristotle to break outdoor(a) from his usual method of analysis to consider other ways of looking for at the problem. Specifically, the question of why Aristotle says that propriety in ridicule eludes translation will be considered. The problem is that Aristotle defines ridicule in a later part of the same paragraph, in a way that seems not to look at any acceptable forms.When looking at good and bad com pany, Aristotle considers it only if in terms of entertaining conversation, such as humor, wit, or ridicule. He argues that adaptability in the way we talk to people is desirable, since there is a prison term and a place for everything. The paragraph begins with indirect definitions of two extremes of humor, the buffoon and the unfunny person. A buffoon would rather be a fool and appal peoples feelings than fail to raise a laugh. A man who never cracks a joke is also falling succinct of the appropriate behavior, which is the gentlemans 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 introduce in dealing with the humorous,particularly characteristic of that is social tact oraddress, which may be defined as the gift of saying butthe 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 person 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 smirch, and slander in certain raft is prohibited by law. How can there 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.