Making Philosophy Laugh

“A highly readable retelling of the Western canonical view of humor. This philosophical take brings the comic in a rapprochement with the tragic that culminates in the elevated stance of the absurd.”


—Cynthia Willett, professor of philosophy, Emory University





“The book ‘meanders speculatively,’ as Peone puts it, and does little harm to our understanding of humor on this stroll. It rather reminds us in a pleasant way of what a lot of philosophers have said about the many sides of humor without having to take one.”


—Christian F. Hempelmann, editor-in-chief, HUMOR: International Journal of Humor Research





“Dustin Peone takes an engaging look into many underappreciated ways in which philosophy reveals positive uses of humor for developing political awareness and advancing the individual search for meaning and truth. Through insightful and illuminating readings of a myriad of philosophers including Plato, Shaftesbury, and Vico, Peone convincingly argues that humor can invert our expectations of the world to reveal aspects of our reality that people often overlook to their detriment.”


—Alexander Bertland, associate professor of philosophy, Niagara University





“Humor, according to Dustin Peone, is an essentially human activity, and this wonderful book is a monumental exploration of humor, of humanity, and of the humanities. Its breadth and depth make it a must-read in contemporary philosophy of humor.”


—Steve Gimbel, professor of philosophy, Gettysburg College