According to stereotype, analytic philosophers love nothing more than analyzing concepts, filling the ellipsis of x is F if and only if … with conditions held to be implicit in the meaning of a word. It’s an anachronistic vision, both because “analytic truth” plays a minimal role in contemporary philosophy—there’s more interest in “real definition,” the metaphysical project of explaining
Thanks for the reference - coincidentally this week saw the death of Trevor Griffiths, the left-wing dramatist whose late 70s work "Comedians" has become a modern classic with many revivals and a favourite for student groups.
Minor point, but since Double's initial definition includes the idea that the comedian is "standing in front of an audience," it's worth mentioning that they were called stand-ups not because they stood up, but because they worked in clubs associated with organized crime and in order to work there they had to be considered a "stand-up" type of guy. Surprising, right?
Thanks for the reference - coincidentally this week saw the death of Trevor Griffiths, the left-wing dramatist whose late 70s work "Comedians" has become a modern classic with many revivals and a favourite for student groups.
https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/apr/02/trevor-griffiths-mancunian-marxist-whose-political-plays-deserve-revival
What (if any) is the relationship between philosophy and humour? Did Socrates have an open mic?
Minor point, but since Double's initial definition includes the idea that the comedian is "standing in front of an audience," it's worth mentioning that they were called stand-ups not because they stood up, but because they worked in clubs associated with organized crime and in order to work there they had to be considered a "stand-up" type of guy. Surprising, right?
Thanks. I will check it out.