Re: Humor? (was) genetic unselfishness

From: Spike Jones (spike66@ibm.net)
Date: Tue Jan 25 2000 - 22:22:23 MST


> QueeneMUSE@aol.com wrote:
>
> > Science doesn't explore laughter much. Perhaps there is an irony to that
> somewhere...
> >
> Dana Hedberg wrote: Actually, that isn't entirely true.... And the "surprise
> mechanism" you mention above seems to be one of the major contributors...

How about paradox. The surprise mechanism is great for sudden
gales of heehaws, yet paradox continues to entertain, as one peels
away layer after layer. Consider P.G. Wodehouse's Wooster and
Jeeves stories, or the paradox found in Twain's Huckleberry Finn,
perhaps the best and most insightful comedy ever produced in the
colonies. spike



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