In Simon Critchley's book, On Humor, Critchley admits that humor is an "impossible object for [the] philosopher" since "an explained joke is one misunderstood joke." While Critchley may be right that one can and should experience humorous enjoyment that never needs to be reasoned with or explained away if one proceeds as Critchley does in the quest to philosophize about humor, it is revealed that through humor we are all philosophers. Aristotle said: “no animal laughs saves man” and in the same way no animal thinks like philosophers. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The divide between animal and human is where comedy exists as well as philosophy. Critchley introduces us to the concept of "having" a body versus "being" the body. This ability that humans have to detach from their bodies allows for this act of observation. In both humor and philosophy people look at the world they live in and imagine it in another way. Comedians and philosophers alike ask why. Both question authority and exist as publicly influenced social practices. Humor and philosophy at their most basic level both ask the question: why? Why do humans do what they do? Mary Douglas says that “jokes are anti-ritual. They mock, parody, or ridicule the ritual practices of a given society.” Both philosophy and comedy make us question our unconscious habits, making the usual strange and ridiculous, saying the unspeakable, challenging conventions, challenging power. The Clouds of Aristophanes is a comic work that satirizes the sophisms and philosophy of the day. Socrates is portrayed as what he was sentenced to death for in 399 BC. Aristophanes in the Clouds does just this by pointing out ridiculous conventions and saying the unspeakable. Both philosophers and comedians share the common thread of refusing to submit to authority. Especially in the art form of stand-up comedy. Both Lenny Bruce and Socrates were seen in public life as subversive and rebellious political figures of their respected times. Behind their perceived dissident attitude, there is a priority of critical inspection of authority by both worlds of thinkers. Eddie Waters from the 1976 play, The Comedians, says that he "dares to see what his listeners shy away from, are afraid to express. And what he sees is a kind of truth about people, about their situation, about what they hurts or terrifies them, about what is difficult, above all, about what they want.” The same can be said for philosophers. Both philosophers and comedians use language as a medium delivery of those words in the social environments. Practice is involved in both paths to becoming a great philosopher or a great comedian. However, the two present challenges to their audiences : This is just one example. Get a custom paper now from our expert writers Get a custom essay Both comedian and philosopher audiences are refreshed and troubled. Both are provoked to think and put things into perspective. Critchley writes that “humor consists in laughing at oneself in finding oneself ridiculous and such humor is not depressing but on the contrary gives us a childish sense of emancipation, consolation and elevation. The ability to create a joke or a philosophical reflection emancipates human beings from their animality and at the same time is also a continuous expression of consolation to explore the question..