Comic Relief A Comprehensive Philosophy of Humor
John Morreall
Foreword by Robert Mankoff, Cartoon Editor of The New Yorker
A John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Publication
This edition first published 2009 © 2009 John Morreall Blackwell Publishing was acquired by John Wiley & Sons in February 2007. Blackwell’s publishing program has been merged with Wiley’s global Scientific, Technical, and Medical business to form Wiley-Blackwell. Registered Office John Wiley & Sons Ltd, The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, United Kingdom Editorial Offices 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148-5020, USA 9600 Garsington Road, Oxford, OX4 2DQ, UK The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, UK
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Morreall, John, 1947– Comic relief : a comprehensive philosophy of humor / John Morreall ; foreword by Robert Mankoff. p. cm. — (New directions in aesthetics) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-4051-9612-3 (alk. paper) 1. Wi Witt and hum umor or–P –Phi hilo loso soph phy. y. I. Tit itlle. PN6149.P5M67 2009 809 .7—dc22 2009007420 ′
A catalogue record for this book is available from f rom the British Library. Set in 10/12.5pt Galliard by Graphicraft Ltd, Hong Kong Printed in Singapore 01
2009
Contents
Foreword Robert Mankoff
ix
Preface Acknowledgments
xi xiii
1
2
3
No Lau Laughi ghing ng Mat Matter ter:: The The Tra Tradit dition ional al Reje Rejecti ction on of Humor and Traditional Theories of Humor Humor, Anarchy, and Aggression The Superiority Theory: Humor as Anti-social The Incongruity Theory: Humor as Irrational The Relief Theory: Humor as a Pressure Valve The Minority Opinion of Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas: Humor as Playful Relaxation The Relaxation Theory of Robert Latta Fight or Fli Fight Flight ght – or or Laug Laughte hter: r: The Psy Psycho cholog logyy of of Humor Humor and Disengagement Humor as Play Laughter as a Play Signal From Luc From Lucyy to “I “I Love Love Luc Lucy” y”:: The The Evol Evolut utio ion n of Humor What Was First Funny? The Basic Pattern in Humor: The Playful Enjoyment of a Cognitive Shift Is Expressed in Laughter The Worth of Mirth
1 2 4 9 15 23 24
27 28 33 36
40 41 49 64
viii Contents 4 That Mona Lisa Smile: The Aesthetics of Humor Humor as Aesthetic Experience Humor and Other Ways of Enjoying Cognitive Shifts: The Funny, Tragic, Grotesque, Macabre, Horrible, Bizarre, and Fantastic Tragedy vs. Comedy: Is Heavy Better than Light? Enough with the Jokes: Spontaneous vs. Prepared Humor
69 70
73 75 83
5 Laughing at the Wrong Time: The Negative Ethics of Humor Eight Traditional Moral Objections The Shortcomings in the Contemporary Ethics of Humor A More Comprehensive Approach: The Ethics of Disengagement First Harmful Effect: Irresponsibility Second Harmful Effect: Blocking Compassion Third Harmful Effect: Promoting Prejudice
101 102 103 105
6 Having a Good Laugh: The Positive Ethics of Humor Intellectual Virtues Fostered by Humor Moral Virtues Fostered by Humor Humor during the Holocaust
111 112 115 119
7 Homo Sapie ien ns and Homo Ridens: Philosophy and Comedy Was Socrates the First Stand-up Comedian? Humor and the Existentialists The Laughing Buddha
125 126 129 133
8 Th Thee Gla Glass ss Is Ha Half lf--Em Empt pty y and Half-Full: Comic Wisdom
139
Notes
146
Bibliography
160
Index
179
90 91 98
