A Look at Tragedy and Tragic Pleasure in the Thought of Susan Feagin

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Philosophy of Art, Faculty of Advanced Arts Research and Entrepreneurship, Art University of Isfahan, Iran

2 Department of Philosophy of Art, Faculty of Advanced Arts Research and Entrepreneurship, Art University of Isfahan , Iran

10.22108/mph.2025.144251.1620

Abstract

Tragedies, despite their painful and fateful content, have always raised the question of how they can be pleasurable for the audience. Susan Feagin, as a contemporary analytic philosopher, seeks to provide an explanation for this paradoxical feature. The lack of attention to her works among Persian-speaking audiences further highlights the significance of this research. This study, employing an analytical approach and qualitative methodology, examines the impact of tragedy on the audience and how it evokes a sense of pleasure from Feagin’s perspective. The primary and secondary research questions are as follows: How does tragedy affect the audience? And how does tragedy evoke a sense of pleasure in the audience? Feagin argues that contemporary tragedies, like classical ones, are powerful in their impact but are more often inspired by social realities and historical events such as wars. The findings indicate that emotions such as empathy and meta-response play a crucial role in Feagin’s thought. Tragedy, by creating moments of revelation and transformation in characters, deeply influences the audience both psychologically and morally, leading them toward empathy and a deeper understanding of human conditions. Moreover, the pleasure derived from tragedy stems from recognizing shared emotions with others and gaining insight into its ethical dimensions.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Metaphysics

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 23 April 2025

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History

  • Receive Date: 03 February 2025
  • Revise Date: 20 April 2025
  • Accept Date: 23 April 2025

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