Uploaded September 2021 | Updated September 2026, 5 hours ago
1297th Ordinary General Meeting and Open Lecture of the Royal Society of NSW -- 1 September 2021
“Taking humour and laughter seriously: Exploring the multi-disciplinary field of humour studies”
Dr Jessica Milner Davis FRSN
https://royalsoc.org.au/blog/1297th-ogm-and-open-lecture
Timing Marks
00:00:00 Introduction to the Speaker: Dr Susan Pond AM FRSN, President, Royal Society of NSW
00:01:22 Presentation: Dr Jessica Milner Davis FRSN
00:44:10 Q&A Session and Vote of Thanks: moderated by Dr Elizabeth Deane FRSN
Summary:
From the time of Aristotle and Plato, philosophers have speculated about humour and laughter, proposing that ridere est humanum. But we now know that chimpanzees and rats also laugh. Sociologist Norbert Elias believed that laughter evolved as an antidote to aggression; but humour can also be damaging. This lecture explores the question of whether humour unites or divides the human race. Studies in neuroscience, psychology, linguistics, literature, performance, history, sociology, religion, health, and the emotions all now contribute to our understanding of the functions and consequences of humour. We honour its creators and practitioners, but we still can‘t define it.
1297th Ordinary General Meeting and Open Lecture of the Royal Society of NSW -- 1 September 2021
“Taking humour and laughter seriously: Exploring the multi-disciplinary field of humour studies”
Dr Jessica Milner Davis FRSN
https://royalsoc.org.au/blog/1297th-ogm-and-open-lecture
Timing Marks
00:00:00 Introduction to the Speaker: Dr Susan Pond AM FRSN, President, Royal Society of NSW
00:01:22 Presentation: Dr Jessica Milner Davis FRSN
00:44:10 Q&A Session and Vote of Thanks: moderated by Dr Elizabeth Deane FRSN
Summary:
From the time of Aristotle and Plato, philosophers have speculated about humour and laughter, proposing that ridere est humanum. But we now know that chimpanzees and rats also laugh. Sociologist Norbert Elias believed that laughter evolved as an antidote to aggression; but humour can also be damaging. This lecture explores the question of whether humour unites or divides the human race. Studies in neuroscience, psychology, linguistics, literature, performance, history, sociology, religion, health, and the emotions all now contribute to our understanding of the functions and consequences of humour. We honour its creators and practitioners, but we still can‘t define it.
