афоризм

The paper deals with ironic edification – autosemantic utterances which contain critical evaluation of human shortcomings expressed in derisive assertion of absurd, or pretentious, or malicious behavior certain people manifest. They make a specific class of proverbs, aphorisms, and miniatures of modern network discourse. They are heterogeneous and vary from profound observations of human character up to banalities used to amuse a down-home partner, from witty phrases up to acid black humour.

This paper is devoted to the verbalization of the deficit of cognitive abilities in aphoristic sentences. Age, gender and axiological characteristics of stupidity are studied. The paper shows tha that intelligence can be subdivided into four basic modes.: Intelligence as a “normal” degree of cognitive abilitiesas opposed to stupidity which indicated a low degree of these abilities. Ethical evaluation of cognitive abilities allows for the opposition of wisdom to cunning.