Toward Moral Sublimity: Elements of a Theory of Humor
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David Bartosch
Abstract
This article outlines a new theory of humor. The concept of humor is developed in the sense of five dialectical levels, respectively, sequential phenomenalities of humorous consciousness. These range from a level of most inferior (hurtful) humor up to a stage of most sublime humor. Systematically speaking, humor is viewed from an enhanced perspective of transcendental philosophy, namely as a medium of self-unfolding practical reason. It is considered as a complementary potency to the practical force of the latter’s regulative principle, and it fulfils several important functions. The first section provides basic definitions of concepts like humor, sublimity, comicality, etc. Here, the five phenomenalities of humor are introduced. The second section explores and develops these contents more in detail. Some references to the German-speaking tradition in the philosophy of humor provide further input for discussion. The third section presents a thought experiment. Imaginary humorous reactions of Socrates to ridicule and hostility are analyzed in the sense of the present theory.
© 2022 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Titelei
- Table of Contents
- The Excess of Moderation: Clement of Alexandria against Laughter
- Toward Moral Sublimity: Elements of a Theory of Humor
- Truth and Autobiography in Stand-up Comedy and the Genius of Doug Stanhope
- The Visual Rhetoric of Monty Python’s Flying Circus: Fulfilling Noël Carroll’s Hopes for a Classification of Sight Gags
- Framing the Ethical Boundaries of Humor
- Is Laughing at Morally Oppressive Jokes Like Being Disgusted by Phony Dog Feces? An Analysis of Belief and Alief in the Context of Questionable Humor
- What Is Wrong with Laughing? Faulty Laughter as a Case of Negligent Omission
- Discussion: Short Article for Further Debate
- Mind the Gap! On Dmitri Nikulin’s Case for the Affectionate Laughter of Agnes Heller
- Laughter’s Affect and Effects
- Aunt Eggs Chicken (E.C.) Dents
- The Robot Sol Explains Laughter to His Android Brethren
- Philosophical Satire and Criticism
- Of Coconuts and Beings: Peculiarities of a Diophantine Problem
- Humor in Philosophy Education
- Has Higher Education Fallen Down the Rabbit Hole?
- Symposium
- Critics
- An Infallible Assassin: On Lydia Amir’s The Legacy of Nietzsche’s Philosophy of Laughter
- Philosophical Laughter: Divine or Annihilating?
- Reflections on Lydia Amir’s The Legacy of Nietzsche’s Philosophy of Laughter
- Author’s Response
- “The Good Life” Is Not Necessarily “Good,” Nor Is Humor Always Funny
- Book Reviews
- Call for Papers, Book Reviews, Guidelines
Articles in the same Issue
- Titelei
- Table of Contents
- The Excess of Moderation: Clement of Alexandria against Laughter
- Toward Moral Sublimity: Elements of a Theory of Humor
- Truth and Autobiography in Stand-up Comedy and the Genius of Doug Stanhope
- The Visual Rhetoric of Monty Python’s Flying Circus: Fulfilling Noël Carroll’s Hopes for a Classification of Sight Gags
- Framing the Ethical Boundaries of Humor
- Is Laughing at Morally Oppressive Jokes Like Being Disgusted by Phony Dog Feces? An Analysis of Belief and Alief in the Context of Questionable Humor
- What Is Wrong with Laughing? Faulty Laughter as a Case of Negligent Omission
- Discussion: Short Article for Further Debate
- Mind the Gap! On Dmitri Nikulin’s Case for the Affectionate Laughter of Agnes Heller
- Laughter’s Affect and Effects
- Aunt Eggs Chicken (E.C.) Dents
- The Robot Sol Explains Laughter to His Android Brethren
- Philosophical Satire and Criticism
- Of Coconuts and Beings: Peculiarities of a Diophantine Problem
- Humor in Philosophy Education
- Has Higher Education Fallen Down the Rabbit Hole?
- Symposium
- Critics
- An Infallible Assassin: On Lydia Amir’s The Legacy of Nietzsche’s Philosophy of Laughter
- Philosophical Laughter: Divine or Annihilating?
- Reflections on Lydia Amir’s The Legacy of Nietzsche’s Philosophy of Laughter
- Author’s Response
- “The Good Life” Is Not Necessarily “Good,” Nor Is Humor Always Funny
- Book Reviews
- Call for Papers, Book Reviews, Guidelines
