Who do we think we are? - part 5 of 5
Abstract Thinking and Humor
The search for what sets our human brain apart from animals continues…
Transcript
Symbols help us in ABSTRACT THINKING. Isn’t that exclusively human? To be able to use simple symbols to describe concepts that are complex and difficult to comprehend?
We fill our heads with thoughts that are literally mind-boggling… extremely big, or seemingly paradoxical, or infinitely small…
Yiri: “And what about HUMOR? I’ve never seen an animal burst into laughter.”
Me: “Maybe humor is a side-effect of our ability for abstract thinking! The only way we can comprehend these outrageous notions is by being able to put them in perspective.”
Yiri: “…or you start believing in a god to account for things that won’t fit your framework.”
Me: “Humor and religion… Are those the areas that set us apart from animals? …I hate to think what it would be like if animals developed humor and religion…”
Cartoon: Two cats, one standing over a food bowl, asking “Is this cat food kosher?”; the other standing giggling by the doorway as its owner is about to step on a carefully placed banana peel.
Original pages
End of this chapter.
Next: the foundations of Western Philosophy
Cat’s having a religion is a great idea for a novel.
I love this. I've heard that my sense of humor makes me an animal :D
A couple of serious thoughts: I read a study showing rats laugh when tickled. Daniel Dennett (and others) have a book that discusses the theory that we might have evolved our sense of humor to allow the brain some relief from the constant fight-or-flight responses.