Basil,
On my machine, at least, the link below does not work.
However, since I know a little about this field and have previously
looked at your work, I think it might be a good idea to offer a few
brief comments.
Humour is a puzzle and a very interesting subject. As a phenomenon, it
is well-nigh unique to humans - though the infra-human primates
exhibit some behaviours that are suggestive about its origins.
Coming to your work, I would first comment that I am unclear as to how
you come to your position. From a theoretical point of view, the idea
of a "displacement activity" does not seem like some fundamental
concept upon which you can safely build a body of theory. Constructing
theory that way leaves questions begged - for example, "what is the
origin and purpose of a displacement activity?" The result is that, as
a piece of theory, it does not seem to me that your work sits on any
solid foundation. However, that does not mean it is wrong, only that I
can see no theoretical reason to think it correct.
The way one hopes to see theories arbitrated is via the outcome of
experiment and that raises my next problem with your work. To put it
simply, I do not recall seeing you suggest any means of testing your
theory.
What operationally testable observations can you suggest that might
support your theory in competition with alternative approaches? Have
you reviewed the literature to find any existing body of observation
that might support or refute your ideas? From looking at your work, I
do not recall seeing any attention to such issues.
For these reasons I am not convinced by your work. In preference, I
stand by my own approach to understanding humour which, as you know,
is the "IFF Theory of Humor" and which can be found on my own web
site. Unlike your work, it does seems well-founded theoretically and
does survive a number of tests.
Sincerely
John Hewitt
On Apr 16, 6:25 pm,
bafah...@xtra.co.nz wrote:
Humor research has been handicapped by the lines of approached
applide
by thinkers from antiquity to the present day. The main one being,
using the word "humor" on a neurological level when it is merely a
construct that has a vague, general meaning only applicable in
cultural intercourse.
I have posted an essay on a Google Page: Laughing and crying as
displacement activities: the implications for humor theory.
Go to the site below, scroll down until you see the elephant and
blind
men, and click on "A new theory of humor".
http://www.humorlinks.com/cgi-bin/sites/page.cgi?g=Academic%2Findex.h...
I have attempted to show that viewing laughter as a displacement
activity (defined in the essay) and explaining why it is confusing to
use the term humor in certain contexts, answers the major problems
encountered by humor researchers.
I think you will enjoy the read.
Basil- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
centre left.