Si voles ridere, lege Utopiam
Considerations regarding philosophical humor in Thomas More's Utopia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24310/contrastes.30.2.2025.17618Keywords:
Utopía, Thomas More, Erasmo, Humor, SátiraAbstract
Following the footsteps of his friend Erasmus in Stultitiae Laus, More did not conceive his most striking and original work, Utopia, as a “serious” text but as a “cheerful” and “festive little book” aimed at revealing truths through the via diversa of laughter. Thus, his 1516 work would inscribe itself in the rich tradition of classical satire in general, particularly “Menippean satire” (in the style of Lucian), characterized by its strong “erudite” (i.e., philosophical) imprint. In this paper, I begin by identifying the main text passages that display explicitly comical content and intent. Then, I attempt to interpret those passages in their relations to one another and the overall organization of the work. I conclude by offering some tentative considerations about the significance of humor for philosophy in the view of Thomas More.
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