This paper aims to discuss ridicule (geloion) in Plato. Often neglected in modern accounts of emotions, ridicule is in fact considered an affect (pathos) by Plato and largely deployed in his dialogues. I will analyze his understanding of ridicule from a descriptive, a normative, and a "practical" perspective, paying attention to how Plato understands its basic functioning, how he thinks that it should be regulated, and how he uses it in his dialogues. ers who are similar to us. More generally, this paper will be an opportunity to explore some issues related to the “pathe of the dialogue”, by which I mean both the emotions that are staged through the characters of Platonic fiction and the emotions which Plato aims to elicit in his audience.
The pathos of Ridicule (to geloion) in Plato’s Dialogues
Di Stefano, Martina
2021-01-01
Abstract
This paper aims to discuss ridicule (geloion) in Plato. Often neglected in modern accounts of emotions, ridicule is in fact considered an affect (pathos) by Plato and largely deployed in his dialogues. I will analyze his understanding of ridicule from a descriptive, a normative, and a "practical" perspective, paying attention to how Plato understands its basic functioning, how he thinks that it should be regulated, and how he uses it in his dialogues. ers who are similar to us. More generally, this paper will be an opportunity to explore some issues related to the “pathe of the dialogue”, by which I mean both the emotions that are staged through the characters of Platonic fiction and the emotions which Plato aims to elicit in his audience.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
