Taking humour (ethics) seriously, but not too seriously

Journal article

Humour is worthy of serious ethical consideration. However, it is often taken far too seriously. In this paper, it is argued that while humour is sometimes unethical, it is wrong much less often than many people think. Non-contextual criticisms, which claim that certain kinds of humour are always wrong, are rejected. Contextual criticisms, which take issue with particular instances of humour rather than types of humour, are more promising. However, it is common to overstate the number of contexts in which humour is wrong. Various mistakes of this kind are highlighted and cautioned against.

Authors: Benatar, D

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics
• Journal: Journal of Practical Ethics
• Volume: 2
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 24-43
• Publication date: 2014-06-01
• Edition: Publisher's version
• ISSN: 2051-655X
• Language: English
• Keywords: Applied ethics; Contextualism (Philosophy); Situation ethics; Wit and humor
• Subjects: Commerce,communications,transport; Practical ethics