2/23/2023 0 Comments Why Laughter Is the Best Reaction to Life's Absurdity, According to Thomas NagelA contemporary philosopher, Thomas Nagel, feels humor is the best way to deal with life's absurdities. In this essay, you will learn why he believes so and why having a sense of humor is vital.
Absurdism is a philosophical doctrine that contends that existence is pointless, senseless, and incomprehensible to reason. It entails an unavoidable clash between humans and the rest of the world. There is a continuous dispute over how humor occurs, although a breaking of expectations appears to be involved. This broken anticipation conserves energy that might otherwise be expended on a strong emotional reaction. Laughter is not always an automatic reaction but a popular coping strategy for ages. It is especially significant in Western societies since humor can assist people in dealing with difficult events and emotions (Moran & Massam, 1999; Lefcourt, 2001). Superiority Theory, Relief Theory, and Incongruity Theory are the three basic theories of humor that have dominated the discipline since the 18th century. While all three describe some components of comedy, they do not provide a comprehensive explanation. However, they are both beneficial and complementary. Humor has several beneficial effects on both mental and physical health. It can help us examine our living situations more realistically, reducing stress and increasing motivation. It is also beneficial to relationships and can improve leadership abilities. For example, Sigmund Freud believed that comedy helps people create a healthy relationship with their super-ego, which may be harsh and unforgiving. On the other hand, Nagel contends that humor is the finest response to life's absurdity because it allows you to see things from a different viewpoint. You can regard the world as a sequence of random happenings, but it does not mean you should give up on your aim of living a good and happy life. Thomas Nagel is a contemporary philosopher who believes that the best way to deal with life's absurdities is through humor. In his 1971 article The Absurd, he writes that humor is the best way to cope with being human. Life's absurdity can be a source of both tension and amusement. The conflict behind the ludicrous is frequently a clash between an internal component of human nature and an exterior component of world nature. Theorists have traditionally focused their attention on these two components. The theoretical component concerns reason's epistemological failure to penetrate and comprehend reality. In contrast, the practical component concerns an individual's effort to find meaning in an incomprehensible world. However, according to Nagel, these remedies do not resolve the underlying issue. The only way to deal with the ludicrous is to recognize it for what it is and respond appropriately. Some thinkers believe comedy reacts to ambiguity, irrelevance, impossible, inappropriateness, and surprise (Monro, 1954; Schopenhauer, 1818; Morreall, 1987). Others believe it stems from a sense of superiority or relief. Philosopher Thomas Nagel argues in his 1971 article The Absurd that life's absurdity should not lead to despair. Instead, it should make people chuckle. According to Nagel, absurdity develops when human desires collide with the world's reality. In some circumstances, people try to adjust their expectations or goals to resolve the conflict; in others, they may withdraw. However, according to Nagel, incongruity resolution is simply one humor aspect. He cites Arthur Schopenhauer's view that comedy emerges when we recognize an incongruity between our perception and conception. Because it permits us to live freely without dread of death, humor is the perfect response to life's absurdities. It also prevents us from feeling stuck or constrained by trivial ideas and feelings.
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