William B. Irvine is professor of philosophy at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. He is the author of Slap in the Face: Why Insults Hurt — And Why They Shouldn’t, A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy and On Desire: Why We Want What We Want.
Why Insults Hurt—And Why They Shouldn’t
Humans sort themselves into social hierarchies with fighting words, but insults don’t have to sting