Universität Wien
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180116 VO-L Philosophy of Laughter (2012W)

From Antiquity to the Present

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 18 - Philosophie

Office Hour: Thursday, 6-7 p.m. (advance registration required).
Attention: Unfortunately, the lecture on October 11, 2012 must be cancelled due to a conference participation In Germany.

Details

Language: German

Examination dates

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Thursday 18.10. 19:00 - 20:30 Hörsaal 7 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 7
  • Thursday 25.10. 19:00 - 20:30 Hörsaal 7 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 7
  • Thursday 08.11. 19:00 - 20:30 Hörsaal 7 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 7
  • Thursday 15.11. 19:00 - 20:30 Hörsaal 7 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 7
  • Thursday 22.11. 19:00 - 20:30 Hörsaal 7 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 7
  • Thursday 29.11. 19:00 - 20:30 Hörsaal 7 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 7
  • Thursday 06.12. 19:00 - 20:30 Hörsaal 7 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 7
  • Thursday 13.12. 19:00 - 20:30 Hörsaal 7 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 7
  • Thursday 10.01. 19:00 - 20:30 Hörsaal 7 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 7
  • Thursday 17.01. 19:00 - 20:30 Hörsaal 7 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 7
  • Thursday 24.01. 19:00 - 20:30 Hörsaal 7 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 7
  • Thursday 31.01. 19:00 - 20:30 Hörsaal 7 Hauptgebäude, Hochparterre, Stiege 7

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Laughter is considered to be a universal human experience and regarded as an attribute of human existence. Yet, academic philosophy does not pay much attention to it. Plato even went so far as to start a tradition which attempted to exclude laughter from philosophy. However, this does not mean that philosophy has not contemplated the significance of laughter throughout the centuries. This lecture course will deal with key approaches in the philosophy of laughter from antiquity to the present. Selected chapters from the history of philosophy shall demonstrate the intellectual richness and the diversity of theoretical approaches with regard to the philosophy of laughter. In addition, the course will draw attention to the issue of inclusion and exclusion of laughter in Western philosophy. Last but not least, students will gain insight into laughter as an existential phenomenon. This class is suitable for advanced students and students at a lower level as well as for students from all faculties.

Assessment and permitted materials

Oral or written exams

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

The aim of the course is to provide students with an overview of basic approaches in the philosophy of laughter from antiquity to the present. It will delve into the philosophical richness as well as the theoretical divergence of the selected approaches. Moreover, it will set up arguments to either exclude laughter from philosophy or to include it into philosophy. Last but not least, students will gain insight into laughter as a fundamental human phenomenon.

Examination topics

This class is a lecture course. The last 10 minutes are reserved for discussion. At the beginning of each class, we will go over the contents of the last lecture. The course uses the e-learning platform moodle at the University of Vienna. There helpful material can be continuously accessed by students. Additionally, selected texts will be provided. They will also be subject of the final exam.

Reading list

As an introduction into the subject matter, I recommend the following books: Manfred Geier: "Worüber kluge Menschen lachen. Kleine Philosophie des Humors" (Reinbek bei Hamburg: Rowohlt 2007); Peter L. Berger: "Erlösendes Lachen. Das Komische in der menschlichen Erfahrung" (Berlin, New York: Walter de Gruyter 1998); Friedemann Richert: Kleine Geistesgeschichte des Lachens (Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft 2009).

Association in the course directory

BA M 10, M13, EC 1.2

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:36