THESIS ONE

Humor & Humanity Abstraction, Memory, and Consciousness

Michael Silber | Professor Tom Klinkowstein

Michael Silber | Directed Research | Professor Tom Klinkowstein

“At the moment it’s just a Notion, but with a bit of backing I think

I could turn it into Concept, and then an Idea.”

–Woody Allen

Michael Silber | Directed Research | Professor Tom Klinkowstein

This thesis presents the hypothesis that humor arises from the synthesis of abstracted thought, memory, and self-reflexive consciousness, representing a form of active creative intelligence with transformative problem-solving potential.

Contrary to existing understanding, humor should not be viewed as trivial and silly, as it involves a sophisticated combination of cognitive skills, which can promote unexpected analogies and metaphorical thinking to explain otherwise baffling concepts.

Such a hypothesis suggests that the rapid advancement of computer memory and the expansive growth of digital information presents the possibility for increased explorations into the connectivity of seemingly dissimilar, incongruous information in pursuit of both new understanding and new avenues for humor.

Michael Silber | Directed Research | Professor Tom Klinkowstein

Abstracted Thought allows us to pursue understanding in the absence of explicit information.

Memory enables us to store and organize personal experiences and learned knowledge.

Self-Reflexive Consciousness is the uniquely human trait that helps us define ourselves and our mortality within the context of our environment and our society.

Michael Silber | Directed Research | Professor Tom Klinkowstein

“Confidence is what you have before you understand

the problem.”

–Woody Allen

Michael Silber | Directed Research | Professor Tom Klinkowstein

The Philosophy of Humor

1. Incongruity [leading approach- Kant, Kierkegaard, [Aristotle] Ambiguity, logical impossibility, irrelevance, and inappropriateness.

2. Superiority [Thomas Hobbes, Plato, Aristotle] Aggressive supremacy.

3. Relief [Freud, Herbert Spencer] Release or save energy generated by repression.

4. Play An extension of “animal play” behavior.

Michael Silber | Directed Research | Professor Tom Klinkowstein

“I’ve never been an intellectual, but I have

this look.”

–Woody Allen