Most people would probably agree that both people and animals (e.g., dogs or dolphins), can enjoy themselves. However, most people would likewise agree that humor is somewhat different from plain joy. How can we really tell the difference, though?
The term 'humor' stems directly from the Latin word humor, meaning moisture. Why is that? It originates from the ancient theory in Greco-Roman medicine, where four different body fluids (humors: blood, yellow bile, black bile, phlegm) determine one’s personality traits. An imbalance of one may cause either choleric, sanguine, melancholic, or phlegmatic temperament – none of which is particularly cheerful [1]. This theory concerns ancient physicians like Hippocrates and Galen, but what is the philosophers' point of view?
Nowadays, philosophy is not usually perceived as extraordinarily funny either, thanks to Plato and Socrates, who heavily influenced our rather serious philosophic tradition. Yet, one man is known as the `Laughing Philosopher´ – Democritus of Abdera. Historic reports call him a cheerful person and he was always amused by people's foolishness [2]. Indeed, today, we would agree that humor means taking oneself less serious and laughing about one's own foolishness.
A day without laughter is a day wasted
Humor enables us to step back from life’s struggles and confronts us with our own faults, while remaining free of moral persecution. Humor has furthermore helped people endure misfortune, misery, and tyranny. Diogenes of Sinope, better known as the founder of Cynic philosophy, was well known for embarrassing and sabotaging his fellow philosophers Plato and Socrates. He also made continual inappropriate jokes about the Macedonian king and Emperor Alexander the Great [3]. Modern comedy often unknowingly follows Diogenes’ footsteps, as cynicism and sarcasm are still very popular in political cabaret and satire. Thereby, the ancient cynics never mocked in vain, but rather imagined how people could live a good and happy life, free from the pursuit of fame and glory.
Thus, it is not disrespectful to call the antique philosophers the first popular entertainers, as they all tried their best to delight people. This is what they have in common with timeless modern day humorists like Monty Python. Another example is Charlie Chaplin, who, in total contrast to antique rhetoricians, did so without uttering a single word. He knew that “A day without laughter is a day wasted”*.
* But see http://bit.ly/1zvJ1Hp
Bettina Schmerl, PhD Student AG Shoichet
This article originally appeared 2015 in Vol 08, Issue 01, Humor
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