On Humans Why Do We Laugh? Philosophers on Jokes, Humor, and the Human Condition ~ Mira Magdalena Sickinger
Dec 24, 2025
Mira Magdalena Sickinger, a poet and humor philosopher from the University of Vienna, explores the intricate role of humor in our lives. She discusses the risky social contracts of joke-telling and how humor reflects shared experiences. Their conversation dives into theories from Freud to Kant, revealing how laughter signals social bonds and coping mechanisms. Mira also delves into the politics of humor, examining its potential to challenge power dynamics and reflect societal truths, highlighting its profound connection to the human condition.
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Tension And Release Drive Laughter
- Many theories converge on tension followed by release as central to laughter.
- Ilari Mäkelä cites Kant: laughter arises from the sudden transformation of a strained expectation into nothing.
Incongruity Connects Humor To Cognition
- Incongruity theories explain jokes by showing how punchlines violate established conceptual schemes.
- Sickinger prefers this approach for connecting humor to language and cognition.
Relief Theory Frames Laughter As Release
- Relief theories see laughter as ending suspense and releasing tension, akin to a sigh of relief.
- Sickinger links Dewey's peekaboo-rooted play to this release-based account.