On Humans Why Do We Laugh? Philosophers on Jokes, Humor, and the Human Condition ~ Mira Magdalena Sickinger
Dec 24, 2025
Mira Magdalena Sickinger, a poet and humor philosopher from the University of Vienna, explores the intricate role of humor in our lives. She discusses the risky social contracts of joke-telling and how humor reflects shared experiences. Their conversation dives into theories from Freud to Kant, revealing how laughter signals social bonds and coping mechanisms. Mira also delves into the politics of humor, examining its potential to challenge power dynamics and reflect societal truths, highlighting its profound connection to the human condition.
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Jokes Create Tacit Social Contracts
- Successful joke exchanges create a tacit social contract and shared background between teller and recipients.
- Mira Magdalena Sickinger says this shared understanding can generate intimacy beyond mere comprehension.
Humor May Have A Role In Language Origins
- Elements of humor like surprise and repetition likely helped early language and social development.
- Sickinger argues simple expressive sounds and playful gestures predate complex narrative jokes.
The Salespeople Number Joke
- Sickinger tells the salesman-number joke with two contrasting punchlines to show how group codes shape meaning.
- The story illustrates how shared linguistic games create belonging or exclusion.