Juokų krėtimas: šmaikštumas ar pašaipumas?
Joking: Wit or Ridicule?

Summary/Abstract: In this article I present an investigation of ethical questions related to joking: links between laughter and pleasure, wit, temperance, shyness, stupidity, pride and immorality, as well as the boundaries of making jokes – the legality and decency of joking. Using Aristotle’s Principle of the Mean, lack and overabundance of humor are revealed as two poles. Moderate and subtle joking (wit) is to be held a virtue, thus how should a sharp irony or a biting sarcasm be evaluated? Is malevolence always present with ridicule and does shyness express decency? When examining the content of decency in contexts of interplay between values and virtues, nuances of self-control emerge. When self-control arises from fear, shame or inability, it is not decency or virtue. Good things emerge only from good origin. A subtle and noble person is a law for himself or herself: the culture of joking and the inner constitution of such a human being represents decency.

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