I wasn't expecting to be so personally attacked by our reading this week? I mean seriously, why did Aristotle gotta do me like that?
Anyways, when the philosopher began speaking about magnanimity and knowing one's worth, I felt slightly uncomfy. I typically tend to lean more towards the underestimation side, but Aristotle seems to see this quality as being just as unethical as being conceited. He calls this trait "pusillanimous" and, apparently, it is worse than conceit. Well, wonderful. Guess my self-deprecation jokes aren't as funny as I thought.
Speaking of self-deprecation, this quality can also be found at the farthest end of the truthfulness/sincerity spectrum. With self-deprecation and irnony at the lowest point on the graph and boastfulness at the top, I suppose I am destined to constantly reside at the bottom of the pile. Oops! Wait, that joke was both self-depricating and ironic . . . Gosh, this is going to be difficult to fix!
Setting the humor aside, I really do find it strange how Aristotle labels these traits as unethical. While I would agree they are not the best mental heath boosters, I wouldn't go to the extreme of saying that people who underestimate themselves or have gloomy senses of important are unethically sound. Sure, they may be depressed, but aren't we all?
P.S. For legal reasons, these are all jokes.
Edit - Replied to Ian Blair and Rachael Gregson.
I love the humor and irony in this, and this is a very touchy subject in our current times. The way we view ourselves has a huge impact on the people around us as well. Sometimes this view of ourselves comes from comparison to social media (celebrities), parents, peers, or even our neighborhood and associates. I think he is correct in saying that looking down on ourselves is unethical for the reasons of how much harm it has done to our society through depression and suicide.
ReplyDeleteKind of mad that I saw this because this was gonna be my title and now I gotta come up with something else.
ReplyDeleteNow for a more serious reply...
DeleteHailey, I completely agree with you. In today's society, we may not see those who underestimate themselves in the highest of esteem, but we hold those individuals to a higher esteem than the vain. It is admirable to be humble in our views, so it is quite interesting to see Aristotle to have views which oppose several of our modern day society's views including this as well as his view on passivity and body size.
Hailey, I would agree with you! I definitely err to the side of self-deprecation in my humor and general air, but I would also agree with Aristotle in that there's a general mean we need to achieve in all things. Even in this culture, where it's normal to be self deprecating, I think we'd all agree that there's a line that gets crossed. There's a difference between the normal "Oh I'll just look like trash" jokes, and THOSE people, who are always fishing for compliments with their deprecation. Even in the midst of depression, there's a balance! Thanks, Aristotle!
ReplyDeleteHailey, your post had me rolling with laughter for a good few minutes. I think it is too often that we choose the underestimating side of things when given a spectrum to gauge things on because we have this innate sense that less is best when you are not given the right amount. This however, is flipped on its head given the context outside of these previously mentioned spectrums, as if one has less of a material needed for something, then that is worse than having an overabundance or extra of said needed material. Good thoughts nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one!
ReplyDeleteApparently, self worth campaigns are not anything new. It makes a lot of sense, especially at that time, for self depreciation to be a problem, especially when you have a limited selection of your job in the future. In any case, humility is a great virtue, but self worth is also important
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