Abstract

This article aims to explore the semiotic relevance of indecorous phenomena, focusing on the close connection between ethical and aesthetic decorum. The first part introduces three general issues: the relationship between aesthetic decoration and moral dignity, the relationship between standards and refusal, and the distinction between improper conduct as a lack of normative competence or a voluntary provocation. The second part attempts to clarify four more specific aspects: the relationship between decency and deviance, the issue of the evolution of decorum norms, the concept of urban etiquette, and the connection between decorum and sexual morality. The third part introduces the essays in the volume and emphasises their theoretical contribution to the abovementioned central problems.