Uncivil Mirth

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The relaxation of censorship in eighteenth-century Britain sparked a surge of satires, caricatures, and comic hoaxes, leading to moral panic and concerns about the corruption of public debate. However, proponents of ridicule argued it could expose hypocrisy, challenge arrogance, and undermine the powerful. This exploration delves into how prominent thinkers sought a humane form of ridicule to advocate for religious toleration, the abolition of the slave trade, and the dismantling of patriarchal power. The work highlights a tumultuous era where ridicule's role in public discourse faced intense scrutiny. The Third Earl of Shaftesbury redefined ridicule as a tool against pretension and authority rather than a mere byproduct of free debate. Through the examination of philosophical treatises, political pamphlets, and conduct manuals, the text reveals how figures like David Hume and Mary Wollstonecraft engaged with the concept of ridicule in combating intolerance, fanaticism, and hubris. By reframing Enlightenment Britain, it illustrates how the Age of Reason was also an Age of Ridicule, resonating with contemporary concerns about civility in public discussions.