I have confessed that I have a fixation on the concept of irony. To me irony is a cheap and easy way, a fix, to exercise the part of my brain that seems to demand philosophical thought. My thoughts on irony extend to its nature as a form of argument, an antagonism, an object of confusion, an element of humor, a threat to objectivity, a method of subjectivism and more. — introbert
Irony is a literary device or event in which how things seem to be is in fact very different from how they actually are. If this seems like a loose definition, don't worry—it is. Irony is a broad term that encompasses three different types of irony, each with their own specific definition: verbal irony, dramatic irony, and situational irony. Most of the time when people use the word irony, they're actually referring to one of these specific types of irony…
…In the last twenty years or so, the term "ironic" has become popular to describe an attitude of detachment or subversive humor, like that of someone who wears a Christmas sweater as a joke. This more recent meaning of ironic is not entirely consistent with the original meaning of irony… — LitCharts
The disparity of intention and result; when the result of an action is contrary to the desired or expected effect. — T Clark
You described Irony as directed inwardly. That internal ironic feeling could be rationalized as simply realizing that things are not as they seem, or as they ought to be ideally. But emotionally, the feeling may be somewhere between Enlightenment and Disappointment. Either a private joke, or a personal farce.The feeling of holding two contradictory ideas in my mind at the same time. Being pulled in two different directions but not being able to choose one over the other to resolve the contradiction. That is the feeling of irony for me. — T Clark
(falsely perhaps) — Tom Storm
Isn't her song famously about irony, without any examples of irony? — Tom Storm
I was taught (falsely perhaps) that in America the only people to understand irony and use it well in humour and art are the Jews. There is definitely a cultural aspect to its use. — Tom Storm
She has radical and continuing doubts about the final vocabulary she currently uses, because she has been impressed by other vocabularies, vocabularies taken as final by people or books she has encountered...
...Insofar as she philosophizes about her situation, she does not think that her vocabulary is closer to reality than others, that it is in touch with a power not herself. — Tom Storm
But that doesn't cause me any doubts about my language. I guess I don't see the irony in this. Maybe I'm misunderstanding. — T Clark
Apocryphal has Bill Bryson suggesting that 40% of Americans do understand irony. — Banno
I don't quite feel any of those definitions are sufficient.
The disparity of intention and result; when the result of an action is contrary to the desired or expected effect.
— T Clark
That happens all the time and is not remarkable. They all seem to be missing a reflexive element that differentiates ironic disparity from any old mundane “The best laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft a-gley.” — Vera Mont
As I noted in my post, the definitions miss something I think is important. — T Clark
It's only ironic when the outcome is opposite to the intention because of the intention. — Vera Mont
I often found it ironic how those I knew in Buddhist, mediation circles would talk about shedding attachments and getting closer to enlightenment whilst simultaneously bonking each other stupid, investing in real estate and buying luxury cars. — Tom Storm
In Christian circles this used to be called hypocrisy and I wonder if hypocrisy, when viewed from a particular perspective, is just irony as praxis. — Tom Storm
In Christian circles this used to be called hypocrisy and I wonder if hypocrisy, when viewed from a particular perspective, is just irony as praxis. — Tom Storm
Perhaps "it's only ironic when the outcome is opposite to the apparent intention because of the real intention" ? — Janus
No, that's just duplicity. SOP for PR, business and some politicians - nothing that needs a special category. — Vera Mont
It's only ironic when the outcome is opposite to the intention because of the intention. — Vera Mont
So, you're saying that irony (the unintended outcome) is only ever unintentional, or what? — Janus
A proper account of irony is going to have to differentiate it from sarcasm.
I've no idea what sarcasm is. — Banno
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