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Philosophy, Humor, and the Human Condition

Taking Ridicule Seriously

  • Book
  • © 2019

Overview

Authors:
  1. Lydia Amir

    1. Department of Philosophy, Tufts University, Medford, USA

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  • Takes a completely original standpoint by positing humor as the key to the human condition

  • Offers a much-needed philosophical system that can be applied in everyday life

  • Presents new material from the leading scholar in the field

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Table of contents (7 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvi
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  2. The Human Predicament

    • Lydia Amir
    Pages 1-40

  3. To Solve or Not to Solve…

    • Lydia Amir
    Pages 41-66

  4. Handling Contradictions

    • Lydia Amir
    Pages 67-95

  5. Revisiting Philosophic Ideals

    • Lydia Amir
    Pages 97-117

  6. Homo risibilis: The Ridiculous Human Being

    • Lydia Amir
    Pages 119-149

  7. The Good Life I: Joy, Happiness, Timelessness

    • Lydia Amir
    Pages 151-192

  8. The Good Life II: Compassion, Skepticism, Lucidity

    • Lydia Amir
    Pages 193-234

  9. Back Matter

    Pages 235-305
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Keywords

About this book

This book presents an original worldview, Homo risibilis, wherein self-referential humor is proposed as the path leading from a tragic view of life to a liberating embrace of human ridicule. Humor is presented as a conceptual tool for holding together contradictions and managing the unresolvable conflict of the human condition till Homo risibilis resolves the inherent tension without epistemological cost. This original approach to the human condition allows us to effectively address life’s ambiguities without losing sight of its tragic overtones and brings along far-ranging personal and social benefits.

By defining the problem that other philosophies and many religions attempt to solve in terms we can all relate to, Homo risibilis enables an understanding of the Other that surpasses mere tolerance. Its egalitarian vision roots an ethic of compassion without requiring metaphysical or religious assumptions and liberates the individual for action on others’ behalf. It offers a new model of rationality which effectively handles and eventually resolves the tension between oneself, others, and the world at large.

Amir’s view of the human condition transcends the field of philosophy of humor. An original worldview that fits the requirements of traditional philosophy, Homo risibilis is especially apt to answer contemporary concerns. It embodies the minimal consensus we need in order to live together and the active role philosophy should responsibly play in a global world. Here developed for the first time in a complete way, the Homo risibilis worldview is not only liberating in nature, but also illuminates the shortcomings of other philosophies in their attempts to secure harmony in a disharmonious world for a disharmonious human being.

Reviews

“There is plenty of material here for philosophers given its provocative claims but also in its mine of quotes and diligent footnoting. At the same time, the argument is not weighed down by jargon and there should be value for some readers outside philosophy. ... the book conveys an intellectual energy that could stimulate a rewarding exploration of ideas.” (Mark Weeks, European Journal of Humour Research, Vol. 9 (4), 2021)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Department of Philosophy, Tufts University, Medford, USA

    Lydia Amir

About the author

Lydia Amir is Visiting Professor at the Department of Philosophy, Tufts University, USA.


Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Philosophy, Humor, and the Human Condition

  • Book Subtitle: Taking Ridicule Seriously

  • Authors: Lydia Amir

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32671-5

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham

  • eBook Packages: Religion and Philosophy, Philosophy and Religion (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2019

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-32670-8Published: 02 January 2020

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-32673-9Published: 26 August 2021

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-32671-5Published: 19 December 2019

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XVI, 305

  • Number of Illustrations: 1 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: Ethics, Aesthetics

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