The humor in Power - Hobbes

 Thomas Hobbes’, an idealist, perception of laughter and humor in man was particularly interesting to me. Hobbes placed humor within the power hierarchical system, something Plato also does in Philebus 48-50, and manipulates it as an end to a means that he constructs himself. What I mean is, Hobbes observes the world as a system. His perception of laughter and gaiety is molded by his worldview, and thus, is in the context of power. Adding power to the nature of humor and gaiety creates completely different circumstances than the observation of humor without the conscious thought of hierarchy in the back of your head. This purveyance by Hobbes is most poignant in Leviathan, where he writes “Sudden glory, is the passion which makes those grimaces called laughter; and is caused either by some sudden act of their own, that pleases them; or by the apprehension of some deformed thing in another, by comparison whereof they suddenly applaud themselves….” He goes on to admonish the defaming parts of humor by the powerful by saying “For of great minds, one of the proper works is, to help and free others from scorn; and compare themselves only with the most able.” (Hobbes). By placing the concept of humor in the power hierarchy, Hobbes respects the lack of honor in casting jest at someone of lower status. He adheres to a social code of his period that remains class oriented, despite the rise in social revolution around him. 

I found Hobbes' insertion of humor in the power hierarchy interesting because it is a distinct observation of the morality and social order of his time period. In Human Nature, the conception of humor also operates from within Hobbes's particular worldview. Hobbes writes “Men laugh often,... at their own actions performed never so little beyond their own expectations; as also at their own jests: and in this case it is manifest, that the passion of laughter proceeds from a sudden conception of some ability in himself that laughs. Also men laugh at the infirmities of others, by comparison wherewith their own abilities are set off and illustrated” (Hobbes). Even in similar set and class, Hobbes places the discussion of the emergence of humor and laughter from within the power hierarchy. Hobbes' entire conception of humor is surrounded by the notion of maintaining, reflecting on or emitting power and honor. His perception is best purveyed when he says “passion of laughter is nothing else but sudden glory arising from some sudden conception of some eminency in ourselves, by comparison with the infirmity of others, or with our own formerly: for men laugh at the follies of themselves past, when they come suddenly to remembrance, except they bring with them any present dishonor” (Hobbes).