| (3 cr.) Throughout most of the history of Western
philosophy, the assessment of humor has not been
kind. Indeed, not only Plato and Aristotle but
also Descartes and Hobbes generally viewed humor
with scorn and tended to focus on the negative
rather than positive aspects of humor. Humor
theorist John Morreall even goes so far to argue
that it wasn't until well into the 20th century
that humor gained even a semblance of respect
among philosophers. This course explores the
nature and value of humor in our daily lives and
examines humor critically as a virtue that can
help us take ourselves less seriously and live
better lives. Students analyze the major accounts
of humor such as the superiority, incongruity and
relief theories highlighting the strengths and
weaknesses of each theory. Adopting a critical
philosophical lens, students also explore some
important connections between humor and
aesthetics, ethics and education.
Prerequisite: PL 101 or QU 101; Every Other Year, Fall |
