Category Archives: Humor

No Joke: Making Jewish Humor

Posted on May 31, 2025 by Luke Ford

Ruth Wisse writes in her 2014 book: * The young man was most disagreeably surprised when the proposed bride was introduced to him, and drew aside the shadkhen — the marriage broker — to whisper his objections: “Why have you … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Jews | Comments Off on No Joke: Making Jewish Humor

Jews, Judaism & Humor

Posted on March 16, 2025 by Luke Ford

I heard that Jews weren’t known for being funny until they became secular starting in the 18th Century. I don’t find much support for the value of humor in traditional Jewish text. Is the pursuit of the comedic a secular … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Jews | Comments Off on Jews, Judaism & Humor

I find almost everything amusing. Does this make make me a nihilist?

Posted on March 16, 2025 by Luke Ford

Grok says: Finding almost everything amusing doesn’t automatically make you a nihilist—it might just mean you’ve got a sharp eye for life’s absurdities. Nihilism’s more about believing nothing matters, that there’s no meaning or value anywhere. Laughing at it all … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor | Comments Off on I find almost everything amusing. Does this make make me a nihilist?

Humor & Morality

Posted on December 4, 2024 by Luke Ford

From The Oxford Handbook of Moral Psychology (2022): * when one is engaged humorously one adopts a certain static ‘state of mind, a way of seeing and being, a special mental ‘set’ towards the world and one’s actions in it’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor | Comments Off on Humor & Morality

Wisecracks: Humor and Morality in Everyday Life

Posted on May 25, 2024 by Luke Ford

Philosopher David Shoemaker writes in his new book: * The funniness in jokes is found primarily in their logical or semantic structure. Many writers like to point to the incongruity of jokes as the source of their funniness, perhaps involving … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor | Comments Off on Wisecracks: Humor and Morality in Everyday Life