Kant’s Humorous Writings: An Illustrated Guide

Description

Containing new translations of Kant’s bon mots, quips, and anecdotes, this book affords a different perspective on one of the most influential philosophers of all time. Commonly regarded as one of the most serious philosophers (this is a man who took his daily walk at precisely the same time each day), we in fact know little about the events of Kant’s very quiet life. We know he lived in a remote Prussian province, was a lifelong bachelor, and taught the same courses at the same university for over forty years. Yet the 30 jokes and anecdotes collected together here for the first time, reveal a man and a thinker who was deeply interested in how humour, laughter and the art of the story shaped how we think. The Humourous Kant explores a dimension of Kant’s writing that has hitherto been almost entirely ignored but which casts his philosophy into a new light. And contains entirely new translations of Kant’s bon mots, quips, and anecdotes, supplemented by historical commentary which outlines why these pieces were important to both the man and his work. A Foreword on Kant’s theory of humour by philosopher Noël Carroll as well as the editor’s Afterword explain Kant’s theory of humour and why he was so humorous and provide a fresh way in to the work of this enduringly important thinker. Cover page Halftitle page Series page Title page Copyright page Dedication Contents Figures Preface Foreword by Noël Carroll Acknowledgments Note on Text and Sources Abbreviations PART ONE Kant’s Theory of Humor Chapter 1 The Secret Soul of Kant’s Joke 1. Superiority, Incongruity, and Release Theories 2. Kant’s Theory of Humor: A Combination 3. Agreeable Arts, and Three Arts of Laughter (Wit, Naiveté , Caprice) 4. Kant’s Thoughts on Comedy Chapter 2 Three Questions about Laughter at Humor 1. Can Laughter at Humor be a Pure Aesthetic Judgment? 2. An Experience of Beauty, Sublimity, or Something Else? 3. How Does Laughter at Humor Fit in with Kant’s Broader Philosophical Aims? Chapter 3 Kant and the Ethics of Humor 1. A Review of Kantian Ethical Theory 2. Why Ethicism 3. Why Kant’s Ethicism is Soft 4. The Relative Permissibility of Joking 5. A Racist Claim, a Sexist Joke 6. Closing Kantian Questions PART TWO Jokes Incongruity Jokes 1. The Merchant’s Wig 2. Happy Funeral Mourners 3. Swift Wit 4. Dying of Good Health 5. £200 6. Of Juice and Justice 7. King Louis’ Gate 8. Thinking with One’s Body 9. The Happy Cuckold 10. Full of Bull 11. With Friends Like These Ethnic and Sexist Jokes and Quips 12. Foam in a Bottle 13. German Fools 14. The Bearded Woman 15. Samuel Johnson’s Wife Jokes with a Point 16. Abelard’s Flying Ox 17. Which Way the Wind Blows 18. Philosophy Detox 19. The Voltaire Bros 20. The Life You Save May Be Your Own PART THREE Sayings With A Message 21. Ragout, with Wit on the Side 22. Hooped Skirts and Pruned Trees 23. Heidegger as a Woman 24. There Are No Ugly Noses 25. A Whale Barrel 26. To Each His Own 27. Pyrrho’s Pig: That’s What I’m Talking about 28. Hobson’s Choice 29. Sex and Death 30. An Honest Man Is Hard to Find Appendix: Chapter Summaries Notes Bibliography Index