How is humor related to intelligence?
Great thoughts are often the most smiling.
French philosopher and poet Jean-Marie Guyau
Philosophy of humor
Humor — the human’s greatest ability to see the funny side of things. The ability to laugh heartily is not given from birth, it develops in the process of growing up and maturing. A talent of making a good and kind joke is formed as a result of circumstances and the environment.
Ancient Greek philosophers attached great importance to the ability of making a witty joke. Socrates skillfully combined a passion for knowledge and humor, which allowed him to dig deeper into the essence of the human “SELF”. There is a well-known story about how Socrates reacted to a neighbor’s bad comments about him:
“Not at all surprising, he never learned to speak well.”
The famous disciple of Socrates, the ancient Greek philosopher Aristippus instructed people to see more good in the environment, to rejoice and have fun more often. He believed that positive emotions help people not only survive in difficult conditions, but also overcome all sorts of obstacles and difficulties.
There is a guideline in the philosophical Aristippus’ Code:
VI — SENSE OF HUMOR
Be able to arouse fun and joy in other people.
According to the philosopher, the environment in which humor is encouraged contributes to creative thinking and the speedy solution of problems.
All thinkers have turned to humor in one way or another. Plato, for example, saw the cause of laughter in superiority over others and in the weakness of human beings. Sigmund Freud believed that witty humor is the easiest way to relieve tension, ease the situation and solve the problem.
Benefits of humor
The intellectual ability to see the funny side of things, the ability to find contradictions and notice inconsistencies — all this indicates the presence of a sense of humor. A person who instantly reacts to events in such a way that others begin to smile, has critical thinking and sees the invisible.
When a person laughs heartily, endorphins are produced in the body, which has a positive effect on health. A good joke will always lighten the mood and have a therapeutic effect.
Think of how many famous writers have used humor in their work.
Oscar Wilde joked subtly:
“I love scandals about other people, but scandals about myself don’t interest me. They have not got the charm of novelty.”
Funny quotes by Mark Twain were even published as a separate book. The brilliant American prose writer rightly remarked:
“The holy passion of friendship is of so sweet and steady and loyal and enduring a nature that it will last through a whole lifetime, if not asked to lend money.”
Humor is a form of human behavior that creates a pleasant, light and cheerful atmosphere. Good jokes can be compared to an intellectual game in which the winner is the one who laughs.
Developing a sense of humor
Many people think that humor is an innate quality, and if you don’t have it, you never will.
However, the most famous humorists and comedians admit that the ability to joke can and should be developed.
Here are some tips on how to do this:
- observe the details and learn from others when they joke.
- watch more comedies, shows, read books and remember good jokes.
- go to live performances by comedy actors and stand-up comedians. Only there you will be able to fully appreciate the subtle nuances of offbeat humor.
- even comics can help you learn to notice interesting details and find “zest” in what is happening.
By the way, Austrian scientists proved that fans of comic books and black humor are intellectuals and, as a rule, are emotionally stable. And those who deny the benefits of comics and do not understand anything about them have low intelligence and are aggressive.
Universal remedy
Humor is an essential aspect of human life. It is present in all cultures and is characteristic of people in different countries.
How can humor be useful to you? And why is special attention paid to humor in the Code of the greatest thinker Aristippus?
There is only one answer: it is the greatest social phenomenon. Most often, you laugh when you are in a friendly environment and are communicating with other people. Humor is a great way to interact and form relationships.
Even in a business meeting, a witty comment can lighten the mood and strengthen business ties. Humor demonstrates not only the presence of intellect, but also enhances the positive emotions and mood of those people with whom you communicate.
That is why Aristippus called for the encouragement of humor, thereby helping to create a more productive atmosphere. The more often you have fun and get emotional pleasure, the more productive you are and the easier you endure adversity.
Remember that each of your jokes contains great power, and nothing brings people together like a kind and sincere laughter.
Read also:
