Humour in Philosophy
Humour in Philosophy
It seems to me that humour is an essential ingredient of being human. Without humour we would not be human. Yet it is an area that has been ignored by philosophers over the years. They talk about ethics and truth and duty and metaphysics but nary a hint of a mention of where humour fits into all this.
And I am not talking about philosophical jokes, I am talking about real humour.
My take on it is that humour is a response to the absurd. Someone might put together an eminently logical argument for why something 'should' be true, but the conclusion may be entirely ridiculous, to which the 'correct' response is a good belly laugh.
What do you think?
And I am not talking about philosophical jokes, I am talking about real humour.
My take on it is that humour is a response to the absurd. Someone might put together an eminently logical argument for why something 'should' be true, but the conclusion may be entirely ridiculous, to which the 'correct' response is a good belly laugh.
What do you think?
Re: Humour in Philosophy
It is a tragically overlooked component of the human condition. There are a few good jokes in philosophy, Descartes observation that common sense is the most equitably distributed commodity in the universe, because no man thinks he has less than his fair share is pretty sharp. As is Hume's crack about religion being proof of at least one miracle: that anyone would believe it. The most famous treatment of humour is Henri Bergson's 'Laughter: An Essay on the Meaning of the Comic'. It is famous mostly for being completely unfunny. The jokes are there, but you do need a slightly off-beat sense of humour.A_Seagull wrote:It seems to me that humour is an essential ingredient of being human. Without humour we would not be human. Yet it is an area that has been ignored by philosophers over the years.
- Arising_uk
- Posts: 12314
- Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 2:31 am
Re: Humour in Philosophy
Nietzsche had a few belly laugh-out-loud moments. At least the second time around he did, that is if you survived the mass-depression the first time.
Re: Humour in Philosophy
Yeah. Even Schopenhauer had his moments. Can't remember any good Hegel laughlines though.Arising_uk wrote:Nietzsche had a few belly laugh-out-loud moments. At least the second time around he did, that is if you survived the mass-depression the first time.
- Hobbes' Choice
- Posts: 8364
- Joined: Fri Oct 25, 2013 11:45 am
-
- Posts: 4922
- Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 4:48 am
- Location: Living in a tree with Polly.
Re: Humour in Philosophy
Humour is the only rational response to inescapable absurdity.A_Seagull wrote:It seems to me that humour is an essential ingredient of being human. Without humour we would not be human. Yet it is an area that has been ignored by philosophers over the years. They talk about ethics and truth and duty and metaphysics but nary a hint of a mention of where humour fits into all this.
And I am not talking about philosophical jokes, I am talking about real humour.
My take on it is that humour is a response to the absurd. Someone might put together an eminently logical argument for why something 'should' be true, but the conclusion may be entirely ridiculous, to which the 'correct' response is a good belly laugh.
What do you think?
- Arising_uk
- Posts: 12314
- Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 2:31 am
Re: Humour in Philosophy
I've always liked this philosophy undergraduate joke,
"What do you say to a philosopher with a job?
Big Muck, large fries please."
"What do you say to a philosopher with a job?
Big Muck, large fries please."
-
- Posts: 496
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2017 1:48 am
Re: Humour in Philosophy
There's loads of "how many philosophers does it take to change a light-bulb?" jokes. Here's just three:Arising_uk wrote:I've always liked this philosophy undergraduate joke,
"What do you say to a philosopher with a job?
Big Muck, large fries please."
1. Three; one to change the light-bulb and two to debate whether they ought to, and if so, whether it follows that they can.
(2) Four; one to change the light-bulb and three to say "Yes, Socrates," "Well done, Socrates," "Good job, Socrates."
(3) Two; one to change the light-bulb and one to check what Aristotle said about changing light-bulbs.
I wouldn't be surprised if anyone here could come up with a few of their own. (Am I lowering the tone of the original question?)
Last edited by ForCruxSake on Sat Mar 11, 2017 6:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Humour in Philosophy
I used to be a cartoonist and was known for joking around but philosophy forums - along with the US's growing desperation and humourlessness - have trained me not to kid around too much. Too often I've slipped in a joke and been crapped on from on high with claims that "you may think this is amusing but ..."
I find that people online today usually don't want jokes, tending to treat them as self-indulgent babbling with non-essential content. Hang on, no, I think it's just my jokes
I find that people online today usually don't want jokes, tending to treat them as self-indulgent babbling with non-essential content. Hang on, no, I think it's just my jokes
Re: Humour in Philosophy
Philosophy is far too serious a subject not to be made fun of.Greta wrote:I used to be a cartoonist and was known for joking around but philosophy forums - along with the US's growing desperation and humourlessness - have trained me not to kid around too much.
Re: Humour in Philosophy
Indeed Alfred. The import of the discussions at the forum is great.Harbal wrote:Philosophy is far too serious a subject not to be made fun of.Greta wrote:I used to be a cartoonist and was known for joking around but philosophy forums - along with the US's growing desperation and humourlessness - have trained me not to kid around too much.
-
- Posts: 4404
- Joined: Wed Feb 10, 2010 2:04 pm
Re: Humour in Philosophy
far too few "get" the joke...A_Seagull wrote:It seems to me that humour is an essential ingredient of being human. Without humour we would not be human. Yet it is an area that has been ignored by philosophers over the years. They talk about ethics and truth and duty and metaphysics but nary a hint of a mention of where humour fits into all this.
And I am not talking about philosophical jokes, I am talking about real humour.
My take on it is that humour is a response to the absurd. Someone might put together an eminently logical argument for why something 'should' be true, but the conclusion may be entirely ridiculous, to which the 'correct' response is a good belly laugh.
What do you think?
-Imp
- Hobbes' Choice
- Posts: 8364
- Joined: Fri Oct 25, 2013 11:45 am
Re: Humour in Philosophy
Sounds even funnier when you say "Big Mac"Arising_uk wrote:I've always liked this philosophy undergraduate joke,
"What do you say to a philosopher with a job?
Big Muck, large fries please."
- Arising_uk
- Posts: 12314
- Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 2:31 am
Re: Humour in Philosophy
Ooo! You're right! Sorry, habit.
Re: Humour in Philosophy
Well they served me a Big Muck the last time I was in there.Arising_uk wrote:Ooo! You're right! Sorry, habit.