Sublime, Beautiful, Funny: Humour in Â§54 of Kantâs Third Critique

David Sommer

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Chapter 2 Sublime, Beautiful, Funny: Humour in Â§54 of Kantâs Third Critique

In: Philosophy of Humour

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David Sommer

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Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 26â44

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004548817_004

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Abstract

This chapter examines the role of humour in Â§54 of Kantâs Critique of the Power of Judgment in relation to reconstructive readings provided by Kantian scholars. While Kant claims that humour is primarily an irrational, corporeal phenomenon, these scholars have argued that his discussion of humour suggests otherwise and they have proposed readings according to which humour constitutes a pure aesthetic judgement akin to those of beauty and the sublime. This issue is investigated over the course of four sections. First, I briefly sketch Kantâs two types of pure aesthetic judgement. Second, I summarize Kantâs discussion of laughter in Â§54. Third, I debate some of the reconstructions that have been given in the scholarship that attempt to accord a more important role to humour within Kantâs project: John Marmyszâ interpretation of the funny as an unthreatening form of the sublime; Annie Hounsokouâs interpretation of the funny as a species of both the beautiful and the sublime; Peter T. Giamaroâs claim that the funny is the most basic aesthetic judgement; and James Creed Meredithâs suggestion that the funny should be seen as a third and distinct type of aesthetic judgement. I conclude by proposing a reconstructive reading that draws on Meredithâs and Giamaroâs accounts while avoiding the problems highlighted.

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Philosophy of Humour

New Perspectives

Series:Â Value Inquiry Book Series, Volume: 389

E-Book ISBN:: 9789004548817

Publisher:: Brill

Print Publication Date:: 04 Jul 2023

Subjects
- Philosophy
  - Philosophy of Mind
  - Anthropology

Front Matter

Part 1 Humour and the History of Philosophy

Part 2 New Theoretical Contributions

Part 3 Humour, Morality, Feminism and Politics

Back Matter

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Chapter 2 Sublime, Beautiful, Funny: Humour in Â§54 of Kantâs Third Critique

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Philosophy of Humour

New Perspectives

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Chapter 2 Sublime, Beautiful, Funny: Humour in Â§54 of Kantâs Third Critique