Single Idea 7494

[catalogued under 1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 8. Humour]

Full Idea

I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, what doeth it?

Gist of Idea

Laughter is mad; of mirth, what doeth it?

Source

Anon (Ecc) (21: Book of Ecclesiastes [c.200 BCE], 02.02)

Book Reference

'The Bible', ed/tr. the Church [Collins 1950], p.326


A Reaction

Not much of an argument, but an interesting support for the extreme anti-hedonistic puritanical view. Most people would praise laughter as an end in itself, so 'what doeth it?' seems to miss the point.