The Political Relevance of Having a Good Command of Language. From Aristotle and Christianism to the Sides of Good Governance in Hispanic America

Abstract

Within the civil legislation of viceregal America, there is a series of precepts that punish obscene language. It is possible to identify the origin of these precepts, so alien to our current mentality, in the confluence of two traditions that contributed to shape the common sense of the time. On one hand, Aristotle's Politics justifies such a prohibition by establishing a causal relationship between obscene speech and immoral behavior. On the other, based on the observation that "from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks," Christian Tradition emphasizes the negative consequences of exposure to obscene conversations. The Christian commentators of Aristotle, finally, linked both perspectives, showing how from a heart made impure by obscenities sprout seriously unjust actions, not only in the order of sexuality. Thus, they conclude that this type of language should be forbidden by authority.