Theories of Humor

     Plato is correct that there can be malice in humor. However, the answer should not be to avoid

 laughter, it should be to act in a more virtuous and empathetic way. Humor and laughter do not just divide

 people, as he and Hobbes suggest; humor has the ability to bring people together. I think that this is why it

 is so important that when you consider what you find funny, you also reflect on how that relates to your

 life and your experiences. As we have talked about in class, there is the boundary of being able to laugh at

 something if you are part of the "in-group." Plato might emphasize that there may be a power imbalance

 at play, which causes you laughing at something you cannot at least tangentially relate to, to be malicious.

 Hobbes might say that you laugh even though you are in the "out-group" because you are glad you are

 superior to the in-group.  What type of comedy we engage with and find funny should be examined.  We

 can rewatch a lot of older comedy movies today and see that much of their "humor" was at the expense of

 minorities. This is the type of power dynamic that needs to be looked out for when we consider what to

 engage with.

    This does not mean that we cannot laugh at anything we do not necessarily relate to. Samantha Irby's

 books and blog are the perfect example of that. I am not laughing when I read her essays because I feel

 superior to her, or our of any form of malice, but sheerly out of the absurdity of the human condition.

 Laughter brings people together and creates community. It can also make it easier to speak about difficult

 subjects with people you might not know intimately. Humor does not need to be used in a negative way.

 Plato and Hobbes are wrong. The end. 


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