Shaftesbury on Raillery and Truth

Found in: Characteristicks of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times, vol. 1

In this quotation from the opening of Shaftesbury’s essay entitled, SENSUS COMMUNIS:AN ESSAY ON THE FREEDOM OF WIT AND HUMOUR, we see the beginnings of Shaftesbury defense of what he usually terms “raillery”–something he wishes to “commend” to the reader.

Philosophy

The Specters may impose on us, whilst we refuse to turn ’em every way, and view their Shapes and Complexions in every light. For that which can be shewn only in a certain Light, is questionable. Truth, ’tis suppos’d, may bear all Lights: and one of those principal Lights or natural Mediums, by which Things are to be view’d, in order to a thorow Recognition, is Ridicule it-self, or that Manner of Proof by which we discern whatever is liable to just Raillery in any Subject. So much, at least, is allow’d by All, who at any time appeal to this Criterion. The gravest Gentlemen, even in the gravest Subjects, are suppos’d to acknowledg this: and can have no Right, ’tis thought, to deny others the Freedom of this Appeal; whilst they are free to censure like other Men, and in their gravest Arguments make no scruple to ask, Is it not Ridiculous? (FROM: PART I, SECTION I)

Thoughts

Raillery is commended because it is effective in bringing forth the truth. The “specters” mentioned in the opening line of this passage might be considered prejudices we store within ourselves. Those prejudices might seem true under certain circumstances or “lights,” but being exposed to other lights or angles within a light might not produce such a truthful appearance. Ridicule or raillery is a means by which such a prejudice can be positioned in an alternative light. Our “specters” are not likely to reposition themselves of their own accord, because they are deeply embedded within us. Subjecting them to some raillery, however, can quickly dislodge them into the strong light produced by ridicule. If there is really a truth present, that truth can stand up to any light, including ridicule.

Shaftesbury speaks of a “just Raillery” here. He is suggesting that raillery “pokes fun” at an idea to test its merits. Uncivil mocking or false associations with other ideas is clearly not a just Raillery. Two other points stand out in this passage. The first is there is apparently no subject so “grave” that it should be outside of the realm of raillery. Secondly, a part of just raillery is to turn that raillery upon one’s own views and ideas. To use it only on others and not oneself is hardly just, and to fail to ask oneself if one’s own views are ridiculous is itself ridiculous, since truth is not something harbored solely within oneself. Rather we can only test the validity of ideas if we can distance ourselves from them to some degree, and we cannot do that if we attribute more gravity to our possession of an idea than to the idea itself.

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Title by Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury

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