TY - JOUR
T1 - Our Singular Absurdities
AU - Nikopoulos, James
PY - 2021/8/11
Y1 - 2021/8/11
N2 - What is it about the concept of absurdity that allows it to be applied to everything from the nature of existence to statistical methodologies to slapstick comedy? This article seeks an answer in the structure of how we experience the phenomena regularly cited to substantiate absurdity claims, namely those putatively labeled confusing, humorous, or both. Taking its cue from evolutionary and phenomenological accounts of humor and confusion, and responding to the canonical statements of Albert Camus and Thomas Nagel, the essay proposes that certain structures of experience parallel the structure of absurdist arguments.
AB - What is it about the concept of absurdity that allows it to be applied to everything from the nature of existence to statistical methodologies to slapstick comedy? This article seeks an answer in the structure of how we experience the phenomena regularly cited to substantiate absurdity claims, namely those putatively labeled confusing, humorous, or both. Taking its cue from evolutionary and phenomenological accounts of humor and confusion, and responding to the canonical statements of Albert Camus and Thomas Nagel, the essay proposes that certain structures of experience parallel the structure of absurdist arguments.
U2 - https://doi.org/10.5840/jpr2021810166
DO - https://doi.org/10.5840/jpr2021810166
M3 - Article
JO - Journal of Philosophical Research
JF - Journal of Philosophical Research
SN - 1053-8364
ER -