Ethics and tragedy from antique through modern theories of drama

Abstract

In Antique theories of drama the connection between ethics and tragedy was a fact. Since the time of the Enlightenment theories of tragedy, aesthetic aspects have come to the fore at the expense of ethical concerns. Yet, in classical theories of drama aesthetic effects still function to drive home moral aims. In modern drama theories, however, one can find an analysis of tragedy devoid of any ethical consideration. The paper argues that even aesthetically oriented Modern theories of drama should consider ethical aspects, as the main aesthetic effect of tragedy, catharsis, can only be made sense of from the perspective of ethics.