Response & responsibilities: On the moral duties of the audience in humor

Date of Publication

12-2025

Document Type

Bachelor's Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts Major in Philosophy/ Bachelor of Science in Business Management

Subject Categories

Philosophy

College

College of Liberal Arts

Department/Unit

Philosophy

Abstract (English)

In philosophical humor studies, traditional theories of humor attempt to ascribe a fundamental aspect to humor. This paper argues that these theories inherently limit our understanding of humor by choosing to focus on a single essence of it. This paper offers a pragmatic understanding of humor, aiming to simultaneously make use of contributions of different theories. A discussion on how humor should be treated in relation to seriousness highlights that the harmful consequences caused by humor warrants serious treatment of it. This paper argues that Abrahams’ social account of humor — which views humor as a social phenomenon — is inadequate in that it undermines the role of the audience. The claim is made that audience participation is only completed through the accomplishment of the following phases: perception, comprehension, reaction, and response. A revision of the social account is offered, arguing that the audience’s role and participation holds equal importance with the humorist’s role in the moral evaluation of humor acts. The argument is supported with McTernan’s claim that there is an overemphasis on the duty of the comedian, and that the audience’s role is equally important with regards to the ethical assessment of humor acts. This paper aims to contribute to a better understanding of how audiences can participate in humor. This paper challenges current humor ethics by revealing the overlooked but critical moral agency of the audience in shaping the social and ethical dimensions of humor.

Abstract Format

html

Abstract (Filipino)

Sa pag-aaral ng pilosopiya ng katatawanan, ang mga tradisyunal na teorya ay nagbibigay ng isang esensya ng katatawanan Dahil dito, nagiging limitado and pag-unawa sa katatawanan. Upang palalimin ang pag-unawa nito, tinatalakay ng papel na ito ang moral na tungkulin ng mga tagapakinig sa mga gawaing nakakatawa. Inaalok dito ang pragmatikong pag-unawa sa katatawanan na naglalayong gamitin nang sabay-sabay ang kontribusyon ng mga iba’t ibang teorya. Hinihikayat din nito ang seryosong pagtrato sa katatawanan dahil may mga negatibo at mapaminsalang implikasyon rin ito sa lipunan. Sinasabi ng papel na ito na may kakulangan ang panlipunang teorya ng katatawanan ni Abrahams, dahil hindi sapat ang papel ng tagapakinig. Bilang sentral na argumento, ang papel na ito ay nagpiprisinta ng rebisyon sa panlipunang teorya, na ang papel at partisipasyon ng tagapakinig ay dapat kasing halaga ng tungkulin ng komedyante pagdating sa etikal na pagsusuri ng mga gawaing nakakatawa. Ang partisipasyong ito ay binubuo ng: pagdama, pag-unawa, reaksyon, at pagtugon. Sinusuportahan ang argumentong ito gamit ang pahayag ni McTernan na may labis na pagbibigay-diin sa tungkulin ng komedyante, upang mas lalong ipakita na pantay ang papel ng tagapakinig pagdating sa etikal na pagsusuri. Nais hamunin ng papel na ito ang kasalukuyang etika. Layunin din nito ay makatulong sa pag-unawa at makapagbigay ng importansya sa moral na tungkulin ng tagapakinig sa paghubog ng epekto ng katatawanan sa lipunan.

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Electronic

Keywords

Wit and humor

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Embargo Period

12-12-2025

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