Humor and (im)perfection: On the borders of human humor.

Main funder

Funder's project number: 330860

Funds granted by main funder (€)

Funding program

Project timetable

Project start date: 01/09/2020

Project end date: 03/11/2023

Summary

The project focuses on the relationship between humor and (im)perfection by analyzing the possibilities and limitations of humor. The PI asks, if an omnipotent being can have a sense of humor, or is there room for humor in a perfect world. Furthermore, can an artificial intelligence have a flawless sense of humor? PI will argue that humor on the one hand joins people together, but on the other hand separates them. This becomes obvious when humor is tested in the most extreme circumstances: can we laugh in front of the apocalypse? The project will show how and why humor is a central human feature, and how humor reflects the current condition of humanity. Arguably, human beings are optimally flawed for humor. Often laughter reflects questionable stereotypes, but humor can express sympathy, too. It is possible to recognize other human being by laughing together, even if there are no guarantees for humanely valuable humor.

Principal Investigator

Primary responsible unit

Follow-up groups

Profiling area: School of Wellbeing (University of Jyväskylä JYU) JYU.Well

Related publications and other outputs