Sponsor: Mizzou Philosophy Club
People often get away with belittling others if they frame their speech as jokes-speech that would be condemned if stated seriously. "It's just a joke," they say. But what is different or special about joking? And if jokes about lawyers and politicians are morally acceptable, then what is wrong with joking about race or gender? Furthermore, if we may joke about a politician's shirts, may we joke about his weight? People who are targeted by demeaning jokes feel their impact but may not be able to pinpoint where the harm lies. Dangerous Jokes develops a novel, well-researched, and compelling argument that lays bare the power of demeaning jokes in ordinary conversations. Claire Horisk draws on her expertise in philosophy of language and on evidence from sociology, law and cognitive science to explain how the element of humor-so often used as a defense-makes jokes more potent than regular speech in communicating prejudice and reinforcing social hierarchies. She addresses the morality of telling, being amused by, and laughing at, derogatory jokes, and she gives a new account of listening that addresses the morality of listening to demeaning speech. She leaves us with no illusions about whether "it's just a joke" is an excuse for demeaning humor.
"All joking aside, this book is for anyone interested in the ethics of humor. Claire Horisk is masterful in discussing the complicity we feel when listening to derogatory jokes, the questions raised by in-group ethnic jokes, and much else besides. Her positive account will set the research agenda for some time to come." —Sandy Goldberg, Northwestern University
"At long last, we have an astute philosophical analysis of how jokes work. Written with an inviting and inclusive clarity, Dangerous Jokes is empirically informed, philosophically careful, and it provides a novel argument for listener responsibility. It also demonstrates to the general reader and specialist alike the covert way in which jokes can be socially harmful. In Claire Horisk's skilled hands, we see that—and why—jokes are serious indeed."—Mary Kate McGowan, Wellesley College
"Drawing on insights from moral theory, theories of mind, and the philosophy of language, Claire Horisk provides a helpful framework for thinking about difficult issues tied to a very common practice, belittling humor. Prepare to have your mean streak interrogated!" —Luvell Anderson, Author of The Ethics of Racial Humor.
Claire Horisk is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Missouri, specializing in philosophy of language. Her current research focuses on how language shapes society. She is the author of Dangerous Jokes: How Racism and Sexism Weaponize Humor (OUP). Her published work also includes articles about the nature of truth, theories of meaning, contextualism, and animal communication.