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CUT TO THE CHEESE – REPLY TO SPIEGEL'S ‘WHY FLATULENCE IS FUNNY’
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 January 2017
Abstract
In number 35 of Think, James Spiegel presents reasons for why flatulence is funny. In this article I will address five issues that I find problematic in his account:
(1) His claim that laughter always results from a pleasant psychological shift is false.
(2) His argumentative move from what makes paradigm cases funny to what makes flatulence funny is unwarranted.
(3) His notion of a psychological shift is not specific enough and lacks explanatory power.
(4) The claim that funniness of flatulence involves superiority is doubtful.
(5) His talk about ‘nervous energy’ is questionable and has implausible implications.
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- Research Article
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- Copyright © The Royal Institute of Philosophy 2017