Friday, June 16, 2023
Undignified Laughter
Paul Shorey, ed., Plato, The Republic, Vol. I: Books I-V (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1937), p. 211 (note on 3.3.388e):
Newer› ‹Older
The ancients generally thought violent laughter undignified. Cf. Isocrates Demon. 15, Plato Laws 732 C, 935 B, Epictetus Encheirid. xxxiii.4, Dio Chrys. Or. 33.703 R. Diogenes Laertius iii.26, reports that Plato never laughed excessively in his youth. Aristotle's great-souled man would presumably have eschewed laughter (Eth. iv.8, Rhet. 1389 b 10), as Lord Chesterfield advises his son to do.
