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Single Idea 22047

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

Full Idea

Wherever there is contradiction, the comical is also present. ...The tragic is the suffering contradiction, the comical is the painless contradiction.

Gist of Idea

Wherever there is painless contradiction there is also comedy

Source

Søren Kierkegaard (Concluding Unscientific Postscript [1846], p.459), quoted by Terry Pinkard - German Philosophy 1760-1860 13

Book Ref

Pinkard,Terry: 'German Philosophy 1760-1860' [CUP 2002], p.354

A Reaction

He is not saying that this is the only source of comedy. I once heard an adult say that there is one thing that is always funny, and that is a fart.

The 15 ideas from 'Concluding Unscientific Postscript'

22092 Kierkegaard's truth draws on authenticity, fidelity and honesty [Kierkegaard, by Carlisle]
20313 The highest truth we can get is uncertainty held fast by an inward passion [Kierkegaard]
20314 People want to lose themselves in movements and history, instead of being individuals [Kierkegaard]
20312 God cannot be demonstrated objectively, because God is a subject, only existing inwardly [Kierkegaard]
7578 I conceived it my task to create difficulties everywhere [Kierkegaard]
7584 Without risk there is no faith [Kierkegaard]
7580 Pantheism destroys the distinction between good and evil [Kierkegaard]
7579 While big metaphysics is complete without ethics, personal philosophy emphasises ethics [Kierkegaard]
7581 Speculative philosophy loses the individual in a vast vision of humanity [Kierkegaard]
15999 Pure truth is for infinite beings only; I prefer endless striving for truth [Kierkegaard]
20742 The real subject is ethical, not cognitive [Kierkegaard]
22047 Wherever there is painless contradiction there is also comedy [Kierkegaard]
7583 Faith is the highest passion in the sphere of human subjectivity [Kierkegaard]
7582 Becoming what one is is a huge difficulty, because we strongly aspire to be something else [Kierkegaard]
7586 God does not think or exist; God creates, and is eternal [Kierkegaard]