Date of Publication
11-15-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy (Ladderized)
Subject Categories
Philosophy
College
College of Liberal Arts
Department/Unit
Philosophy
Thesis Advisor
Joseph Martin M. Jose
Defense Panel Member
Lorenz Moises J. Festin
Beverly A. Sarza
Cesar J. Unson, Jr.
Abstract (English)
The study presents a recast version of Alan Roberts’ Theory of Amusement and claims that it is currently the most defensible formulation of the Incongruity Theory. The goal of this study is to answer the question “Is the Incongruity Theory of a viable theory of amusement?” by analyzing contemporary refinements of the Incongruity Theory and evaluating their ability to address the Necessity Objection, Incongruity as Insufficient Objection, Sufficiency of Scope Objection, Martin’s Objection, and the Vagueness Objections. The study used these theories’ ability to address these objections to serve as a litmus test for their viability as a general theory of amusement. The study argued that Alan Roberts’ Theory of Amusement is able to address most of these objections and potentially serve as a general theory of amusement. However, the study also demonstrated that in its current form, it is unable to account for certain real life cases of amusement and remains vulnerable to the Sufficiency of Scope Objection. While this vulnerability is not fatal to the account, further refinements appear to be necessary as Roberts’ Theory of Amusement is currently unable to account for the ability of amusement to cause an affective shift from the telic to the paratelic state in subjects experiencing amusement. The study restructured the Aggression Bell-curved component of Roberts’ Affective Component of Amusement (ACoA), and maintained the other elements of his Cognitive Component of Amusement (CCoA) and ACoA to create a recast formulation of the necessary and sufficient conditions for what elicits amusement. Ultimately, the study presents Roberts’ Recast Theory of Amusement (RRToA) as having both the necessary rigor and scope to serve as a defensible theory of amusement.
Keywords: Alan Roberts, Amusement, Humor, Incongruity Theory, Philosophy of Humor
Abstract Format
html
Abstract (Filipino)
Ang pag-aaral na ito ay naglalatag ng binagong bersyon ng Theory of Amusement ni Alan Roberts, ikinakatwiran ng pag-aaral na ang bersyon na ito ay ang pinakamainam na pormulasyon ng Incongruity Theory. Ang punong layunin ng pag-aaral na ito ay sagutin ang tanong na “Ang Incongruity Theory ba ay magagamit na pangkalahatang Theory of Amusement?” sa pamamagitan ng pagsusuri ng kakayahan ng mga kontemporaryong pormulasyon ng Incongruity Theory harapin ang Necessity Objection, Incongruity as Insufficient Objection, Sufficiency of Scope Objection, Martin’s Objection, at and Vagueness Objections. Ginamit ng pag-aaral na ito ang kakayahan ng mga kontemporaryong teoryang harapin ang mga pagtutol na ito bilang panukat sa kanilang halaga bilang isang pangkalahatang Theory of Amusement. Ipinakita ng pagsusuri ng ang Theory of Amusement ni Alan Roberts ay ang pinaka may kakayahang harapin ang karamihan ng mga pagtutol at ay posibleng maging pangkalahatang Theory of Amusement. Ngunit, ipinakita rin ng pagsusuri na sa kasalukuyang anyo nito, hindi nito kayang ipaliwanag ang ilang halimbawa ng amusement na nangyari sa totoong buhay. Dahil dito, ang Sufficiency of Scope of Objection ay nanatiling tumututol sa teoryang eto. Kahit na hindi ikinasira ng teorya ang mga halimbawa na napakita sa pagsusuri, kinakailangan ang muling pagpipino ng teorya upang mapaliwanag ng Theory of Amusement ni Roberts’ ang kakayahan ng amusement na maging sanhi ng isang pagbabagong pandamdamin mula sa isang “telic state” patungo sa isang “paratelic state” dahil sa pagkaranas ng amusement. Muling inayos ng pag-aaral ang lugar ng Aggression Bell-curved sa Affective Component of Amusement (ACoA) ni Roberts, at ipinatili ang iba pang elemento ng kanyang Cognitive Component of Amusement (CCoA) at ACoA upang mabuo ang isang panibagong pormulasyon ng mga necessary and sufficient conditions para sa amusement. Sa huli, ipinakita ng pag-aaral ang Roberts’ Recast Theory of Amusement (RRToA) bilang isang teorya na mayroon kinakailangang sigasig at saklaw upang magsilbing isang pangkalahatang Theory of Amusement.
Mga Susing Salita: Alan Roberts, Amusement, Katatawanan (Humor), Incongruity Theory, Pilosopiya ng Katatawanan
Abstract Format
html
Language
English
Format
Electronic
Keywords
Alan Roberts; Amusements; Incongruity; Wit and humor—Philosophy
Recommended Citation
Ong, C. C. (2025). Funny you should ask: A defense of Alan Roberts' theory of amusement. Retrieved from https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdd_philo/23
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Embargo Period
12-9-2027
