Good tragedy produces catharsis—a purging of emotions, particularly fear and pity, which easily get out of balance and rob us of courage; the emotional release in witnessing tragedy cleanses the emotional life so one is freed from excessive emotions and can live more in accordance with reason.

causalpending

Speaker

Unidentified Speaker — A History of Philosophy | 14 Aristotle's Ethics [cxHz6E0KgKg]

Evidence Quote

a good tragedy must be such as to produce catharsis particularly of the emotions of fear and pity which can so easily get out of balance and robs of our courage you see uh catharsis is a purging of the emotions so that in a good tragedy pity is around Ed fear is aroused and those emotions then are released in the outcome of the tragedy and the emotional life is it is as it were cleansed [35:11]

Source

A History of Philosophy | 14 Aristotle's Ethicswheatoncollege
Created: 8/11/2026, 12:01:26 AM

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