Laughing at Nothing: Humor as a Response to Nihilism
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Disputing the common misconception that nihilism is wholly negative and necessarily damaging to the human spirit, John Marmysz offers a clear and complete definition to argue that it is compatible, and indeed preferably responded to, with an attitude of good humor. He carefully scrutinizes the phenomenon of nihilism as it appears in the works, lives, and actions of key figures in the history of philosophy, literature, politics, and theology, including Nietzsche, Heidegger, Camus, and Mishima. While suggesting that there ultimately is no solution to the problem of nihilism, Marmysz proposes a way of utilizing the anxiety and despair that is associated with the problem as a spur toward liveliness, activity, and the celebration of life.
AcknowledgmentsIntroduction: The Problem of Nihilism1Pt. IScrutinizing NihilismCh. 1German and Russian Nihilism15Ch. 2Nietzchean Nihilism21Ch. 3World-War and Postwar Nihilism43Ch. 4Nihilistic Incongruity61Pt. IIDecline, Ascent, and HumorCh. 5Decline, Decay, and Falling Away91Ch. 6Ambition, Aspiration, and Ascent105Ch. 7Humor and Incongruity123Conclusion: Humor as a Response to Nihilism155Postscript167Notes173Bibliography195Index203
