La consolazione della serietà

(The Consolation of Seriousness)

Abstract

The essay analyzes the concept of seriousness, both its structures and its contingent aspects. The relevance of this concept for social and cultural life has been increasingly underestimated, and now we are confronted with difficult practical consequences. Seriousness is vital for a proper understanding of the dangerous nature of a situation but also for individuals’ reliability. Possessing a good concept of seriousness is fundamental to foster respect for all kinds of objectivity not only for material but also for moral matters.