Philosophy of Humor

4.0 credits

[Prerequisite: At least one previous course in Philosophy] What is the nature of funniness? Why does the same joke amuse some people but not others, or the same person at some times but not others? Do all funny things have a common feature that accounts for their capacity to amuse? When is it wrong to laugh? Must a person share racist or sexist attitudes in order to find racist or sexist humor funny? More generally, what does a person’s sense of humor tell us, if anything, about their moral character? Can a joke be wrong in itself, or only through its consequences? These and other questions are addressed by applying general concepts from metaphysics, ethics, philosophy of language, and philosophy of mind.