A discourse concerning ridicule and irony in writing (1729) by Anthony Collins

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About this eBook

Author Collins, Anthony, 1676-1729
Editor Bloom, Edward A. (Edward Alan), 1914-1994
Editor Bloom, Lillian D., 1920-2002
LoC No. 70633346
Title A discourse concerning ridicule and irony in writing (1729)
Note Reading ease score: 50.1 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.
Credits Produced by Tor Martin Kristiansen, Joseph Cooper, Stephanie
Eason, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
https://www.pgdp.net.
Summary "A Discourse concerning Ridicule and Irony in Writing" by Anthony Collins is a polemical work written in the early 18th century. This text critiques the use of ridicule and irony in religious writing and debates, particularly against the backdrop of Collins's own contentious interactions with the Anglican establishment. It seeks to challenge the notion that serious topics, especially those related to religion, should be exempt from humor and irony. The opening of the discourse introduces the context of a letter addressed to Reverend Dr. Nathanael Marshall, who had advocated for a serious approach to religion that eschews mockery and ridicule. Collins counters this argument, suggesting that such serious discourse often masks hypocrisy and ignorance that deserve to be ridiculed. He asserts that laughter and irony are natural human responses to absurdities in human belief systems, especially in matters of faith. Collins promotes the idea that serious arguments are often intertwined with the use of humor and satire, providing examples from historical and contemporary figures who embraced these rhetorical devices to critique religious issues effectively. This sets the stage for an exploration of the intersection of comedy and serious discourse, illustrating how ridicule can serve as a tool for philosophical inquiry and debate. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class PN: Language and Literatures: Literature: General, Criticism, Collections
Subject Satire
Category Text
EBook-No. 30343
Release Date
Most Recently Updated Jan 5, 2021
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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