PHILOSOPHY OF HUMOR

Catalog description

This course examines humor as a serious social practice and a philosophically rich subject connected to core questions in philosophy of language, ethics, social and political philosophy, epistemology, and metaphysics. Students will study major philosophical theories of humor and use them to analyze forms such as jokes, satire, parody, irony, and stand-up. Topics include humors role in shaping identity, authority, responsibility, trust, power, and social norms, as well as questions about moral criticism, offense, and accountability. Readings and case studies are drawn from philosophy, literature, law, and popular culture.