A Critique of Humoristic Absurdism A Critique of Humoristic Absurdism Problematizing the legitimacy of a humoristic disposition toward the Absurd A Critique of Humoristic Absurdism Copyright © 2020 Thom Hamer Thom Hamer All rights reserved. No part of this thesis may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any way or by any means without the prior permission of the author or, when applicable, of the publishers of the scientific papers. Image on previous page: Yue Minjun (2003), Garbage Hill Student number: 3982815 Graphic design: Mirelle van Tulder Date: February 5th 2020 Printed by Ipskamp Printing Word count: 32,397 Institution: Utrecht University Contents Study: Research Master Philosophy Summary 9 Document: Final Thesis Foreword 10 Supervisor: prof. dr. Paul Ziche Introduction 12 Second Reader: dr. Hans van Stralen 1. The Philosophy of Humor 21 Third Reader: prof. dr. Mauro Bonazzi 1.1. A history of negligence and rejection 24 1.2. Important distinctions 33 1.3. Theories of humor 34 1.4. Defense of the Incongruity Theory 41 1.5. Relevance of relief and devaluation 52 1.6. Operational definition 54 2. The Notion of the Absurd 59 2.1. Camusian notion: meaninglessness 61 2.2. Tolstoyan notion: mortality 63 2.3. Nagelian notion: trivial commitments 67 2.4. Modified notion: dissolution of resolution 71 2.5. Justificatory guideline for a disposition toward the Absurd 78 3. Humoristic Absurdism 83 3.1. What is Humoristic Absurdism? 85 3.2. Cultural expressions of Humoristic Absurdism 87 3.3. Defense of Humoristic Absurdism 92 4. Objections against the humoristic disposition toward the Absurd 101 4.1. The Superiority Objection 103 4.2. The Irrationality Objection 112 4.3. The Irresponsibility Objection 125 4.4. The Frivolity Objection 131 5. Metamodern Absurdism 141 5.1. What is metamodernism? 143 5.2. What is Metamodern Absurdism? 148 5.3. Preliminary Defense of Metamodern Absurdism 152 6. Conclusion 157 Bibliography 163 Summary 9 To what extent can humorism be a legitimate disposition toward the Summary Absurd? The Absurd is born from the insurmountable contradiction between one’s ceaseless striving and the absence of an ultimate resolution – or, as I prefer to call it, the ‘dissolution of resolution’. Humoristic Absurdism is the commitment to a pattern of humorous responses to the Absurd, which regard this absurd condition, as well as its manifestation in absurd situations, as a comical phenomenon. Although the humoristic disposition seems promising, by virtue of humor’s recognition of incongruity and its denial of an ultimate resolution, and succeeds in countering three major objections, it falls prey to the claim that comprehensive humorism portrays as frivolous what is earnest, thereby renouncing the gravity of the desire for ultimate resolution, which is fundamental to the notion of the Absurd. In an attempt to explore alternative roles for humor in a legitimate disposition toward the Absurd, Metamodern Absurdism is suggested, which revolves around a post-ironic oscillation between humor and earnestness. In short, only in a role limited to one pole of an oscillatory pattern of responses can humor be integrated in a legitimate disposition toward the Absurd. 11 projects for that matter, you acknowledge my passion for philosophy, which 10 Foreword is more than I could have hoped for. Before you lies the thesis ‘A Critique of Humoristic Absurdism’. It has been Foreword written as part of the final course (30 ECTS) of the Research Master’s In addition, I would like to thank my friend Eva Bernet Kempers for being Foreword Program in Philosophy at Utrecht University. I was engaged in researching the funniest critic of humor. Her extensive summation of counterarguments and writing this thesis from February 2019 to January 2020. and examples in opposition to the Incongruity Theory of humor has had tremendous impact upon my account of humor, although I remain stubborn The process of writing this thesis has not been spotless. Not because in my contention that humor essentially involves incongruity. I stumbled upon inexorable contradictions within the argument, nor because of some other problem immanent to this philosophical inquiry. I cannot conclude this project without thanking the most important Rather, the difficulty stemmed from medical hindrances. Due to supporter of my writings in general and this project in particular: Marvik workaholic tendencies, along with the fact that my main activities involve van Dijk. Our friendship has always been defined by a deep awareness of micromovements (writing, composing, drawing, painting), I got diagnosed the Absurd with an eccentric sense of humor. Thank you for your emotional with RSI (repetitive strain injury). This prevented me from progressing as support, substantive discussions and your exemplary humorism in the face much as I would have liked. of the Absurd. Luckily, I enjoyed widespread support during this struggle, for which To my readers: thank you for taking the time to read this text. I hope you I would like to thank study advisor Marloes Lammerts, my primary enjoy this philosophical inquiry, if not for its coherent argumentation, then supervisor prof. dr. Paul Ziche and RMA coordinators dr. Joel Anderson and for its risible incongruities. prof. dr. Mauro Bonazzi. I would also like to thank my supervisors for their substantive guidance. As my first supervisor, prof. dr. Paul Ziche has played Thom Hamer a decisive role in the progression of this thesis, with his mind-boggling encyclopedic knowledge, lucid awareness of semantic and etymological Utrecht subtleties and thorough analysis of my argumentation. My second reader February 5th, 2020 dr. Hans van Stralen has helped me with the investigation of humorism in the face of the Absurd by fleshing out, from literary as well as philosophical texts, the notion of the Absurd, as well as possible responses to the absurd condition. Outside of the academic domain, I thank my parents, for supporting me in my academic and literary endeavors. Although you might not at all understand what I am saying in this thesis, or in other philosophical 13 12 Introduction that revolves around humor), by establishing a defendable and historically There is but one truly serious philosophical problem and that is rooted account of humorism as a disposition toward the incongruity that Introduction suicide. Judging whether life is or is not worth living amounts to makes up the Absurd and by challenging it with some objections that answering the fundamental question of philosophy. All the rest – have been raised against humorism as a general behavioral pattern (i.e., 3 whether or not the world has three dimensions, whether the mind humorism without a specified object such as the Absurd). Humoristic Introduction has nine or twelve categories – comes afterwards. These are games; Absurdism is defined as the commitment to a pattern of humorous one must first answer. And if it is true, as Nietzsche claims, that a responses to the Absurd, which regard the absurd condition, as well as 4 philosopher, to deserve our respect, must preach by example, you its manifestations in absurd situations, as a comical phenomenon. I call can appreciate the importance of that reply, for it will precede the this commitment the ‘humoristic disposition’. Such a disposition should definitive act. These are facts the heart can feel; yet they call for not be understood as a way to overcome the Absurd, for if one accepts careful study before they become clear to the intellect.1 the notion of the Absurd, one accordingly acknowledges its insuperability. Rather, the humoristic disposition should be understood as an Absurdist Contrary to the meaning of ‘Absurdism’ in everyday discourse, referring coping mechanism, that is, one that provides a way to deal with the absurd to a form of humor associated with, for example, Monty Python, very few condition without manifesting one or another form of denial. writers in the philosophical tradition of Absurdism think of absurdity as a How ought we to understand the legitimacy of a disposition toward source of laughter and mirth. The above-quoted opening paragraph of The the Absurd? First, in order for it to be legitimate, the disposition should be Myth of Sisyphus (1942), arguably the most important essay in the history possible, both theoretically and practically. Theoretical impossibility might of Absurdism, leaves no room for doubt regarding the primary status of the be manifested, for instance, in a disposition that would literally prescribe Absurd: it is a tragedy. Indeed, the Absurd is so dreadfully tragic that one the attainment of omnipotence in the face of the Absurd. The same holds for response seems natural at first sight: suicide. Yet, humorous responses to logical impossibilities: a disposition ought not to propagate both affirmation the absurd condition have not been absent from human history. Legend and denial, or promiscuity and chastity. Regarding the subsidiary condition has it that one of the early Christian martyrs, Saint Lawrence, cheerfully of practical possibility, consider the hypothetical example of never-ending shouted, after having been roasted on a gridiron for hours and hours: “I’m euphoria. This may be theoretically possible, but it is difficult to imagine well done! Turn me over!” Recently, philosophers such as John Marmysz within the constraints of the human psyche a euphoric state of mind that and Bob Plant have attempted to justify such a humoristic disposition in the lasts for years and years, let alone a lifetime. In other words, advocating face of the Absurd, portraying it as an effective kind of coping mechanism.2 an impossible disposition toward the Absurd, such as omnipotence, the To what extent can humorism be a legitimate disposition toward the conjunction of opposites or everlasting euphoria, is considered illegitimate. Absurd? This paper purports to critically examine the status of what I call Second, if one holds absurdity to be an insuperable condition of human ‘Humoristic Absurdism’ (in other words: a disposition toward the Absurd 3 That is, humorism without a specific object such as the Absurd.