Overview

In recent decades, the philosophy of humor has emerged as a legitimate subfield of philosophy. Understanding humor enables a better grasp of human experience. This course features 24 insightful lectures that explore philosophical theories and explanations of humor, from puns to complex narratives. Rooted in analytic philosophy and the observations of thinkers like Aristotle and Freud, these lectures will enhance your appreciation of humor.

You’ll ponder the universality of humor, its objectivity versus subjectivity, and the relationship between humor and tragedy. Explore the six theories of humor, including superiority and play theory, while engaging with modern applications. All you need is an open mind and perhaps a funny bone or two!

Video Lessons

01: The Universality of Humor

Explore the underlying nature of humor across cultures, from early jokes to societal views.

Length: 35 min

02: The Objectivity of Humor

Discover the objectivity of humor, challenging the common belief of its subjectivity.

Length: 31 min

03: The Science of Laughter

Examine what triggers laughter and the social functions it serves in human interaction.

Length: 29 min

04: Truth and Humor

Investigate the relationship between truth and humor through philosophical accounts of truth.

Length: 30 min

05: Comedy and Tragedy

Probe the relationship between comedy and tragedy through Aristotle’s Poetics.

Length: 26 min

06: Irony and Truth

Consider the profound intersection of irony and humor throughout history.

Length: 27 min

07: Satires, Parodies, and Spoofs

Dive into satire and its philosophical implications, featuring works from Horace to Swift.

Length: 29 min

08: Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One: Jokes

Explore the logical mechanisms of verbal humor in the context of jokes.

Length: 27 min

09: Theories of Humor

Begin your search for a humor theory rooted in analytic philosophy’s rigorous methodology.

Length: 28 min

10: Superiority Theory

Investigate superiority theory and how it expresses dominance through humor.

Length: 28 min

11: Inferiority Theory

Examine whether we find humor funny by mentally lowering ourselves to the joke’s target.

Length: 28 min

12: Play Theory

Discover how humor exists in the relationship between the joker and the audience as a form of play.

Length: 30 min

13: Relief Theory

Explore relief theory’s focus on the response of the listener and its historical thinkers.

Length: 30 min

14: Incongruity Theory

Learn how incongruity theory explains humor through the unexpected connections in jokes.

Length: 27 min

15: Cleverness Theory

Analyze the cleverness theory of humor and its implications on societal interactions.

Length: 27 min

16: Humor Theory Revisited

Review the six different approaches to humor and how they contribute to a synthetic idea of humor.

Length: 28 min

17: Humor Ethics: Boundaries and Limitations

Discuss the moral implications and rules surrounding joke-telling.

Length: 31 min

18: Who Can Tell Ethnic Jokes?

Explore the philosophical considerations of ethnic jokes and various positions on their permissibility.

Length: 30 min

19: Comic Moralism

Delve into comic moralism, questioning if humor’s morality relies on its funniness or vice versa.

Length: 30 min

20: Situational Ethics and Humor

Investigate how the context affects the morality of jokes and their appropriateness.

Length: 31 min

21: The Necessity of Humor

Ponder whether humor is a necessary aspect of human existence based on philosophical insights.

Length: 32 min

22: Comedian Ethics

Consider the moral responsibilities of comedians in their work and joke delivery.

Length: 29 min

23: Socially Progressive Comedy

Study humor as a tool for societal change, liberation, and progressive activism throughout history.

Length: 27 min

24: Ridiculousness and the Human Condition

Reflect on the connection between humor and living a fulfilling life as biological beings.

Length: 33 min