Author: Karl Pfeifer, Monash University, Australia and University of Saskatchewan, Canada
Email: karl.pfeifer@usask.ca
Published: June 06, 2020
https://doi.org/10.22492/ijah.7.1.02
Citation: Pfeifer, K. (2020). The Normative Significance of Flatulence: Aesthetics, Etiquette, and Ethics. IAFOR Journal of Arts & Humanities, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.22492/ijah.7.1.02
Abstract
Proceeding on the basis of reports of a proposal in 2011 to criminalize public flatulence in Malawi, the normative significance of flatulence is considered from the respective standpoints of aesthetics, etiquette, and ethics, and it is indicated how aesthetics and etiquette may themselves also have ethical significance. It is concluded that etiquette and ethics may both require that certain violations of etiquette and ethics should sometimes be ignored.
Keywords: flatulence, ethics, aesthetics, etiquette, normativity, manners, Malawi