Conversation

Replying to
Another way to come at this: define problem as "life, the universe, and everything." "Meaning" is a serious, contemplation-first frame for addressing it. "Gonzo" is a crazy, experiential-first frame for addressing it. My "home" frame, humor, messes with boundary between them
2
12
For eg. This by is epistemic view of humor "The essence of a joke, in Hurley, Dennett, and Adams’ view, is that the teller of the joke surreptitiously introduces a certain epistemic commitment, and then reveals it to have been mistaken."
1
8
The first link makes the important point that you cannot get at the essence of humor by looking for the essence of jokes. Humor (and this is my gloss on the implication, not the argument in either article) is a posture of being, not doing.
2
1
tldr of this thread... the problem of meaning is a problem of life-force in disguise, and has historically been addressed via one of 3 stances: serious, crazy, and humorous. Meaning-making, gonzo-experiential, and humor. Maps to sorokin's ideational, sensate, idealistic perhaps?
2
2
Replying to
This is good. Here for it <deer eating popcorn.gif> Off the cuff question: Do the 3 stances map in any predictable way... (or could one shape one's life stances in a way) that might rhyme or resonate with a developmental model (Kegan) or a traditional life shape (4 ashrama?)
2
Replying to and
I'm thinking that serious is an early adulthood stage (cf bildungsroman/Brahmacharya/early career development) Gonzo-experiential is either a deepening commitment to a major project (career & family, or a major step off the conventional path) Humourous is a sort of Ironic Sage
2
Replying to
Hmm I wouldn't map these to life stages. I think you lock on to one of the 3 fairly early, like as a teenager, and pretty much stay there. You might take a tourist detour into the other 3 paths, but I've never met anyone who's shifted fundamentally.
1
Replying to and
My original inclination, as a teenager (like you referenced), was quite capital S Serious. very interested in Meaning Became inspired by very Gonzo types, and went through hardcore quest for the gonzo grail of experience Am rapidly identifying less and less with those stances
2
Replying to
Well think of it as a triangle where you might wander a bit before you lock on to home rather than absolute stages. Absolute stages would imply a sort of maturation hierarchy like Kegan. I don't think that exists here. Just 3 modes that get harder to shift between as you age.
Replying to
That's a good shape model. (Reminder: triangles are a good form) And actually rings true to my experience. I think I was inclined to take a humourous stance to life as a younger kid, then got very sturm und drang around 15, which drove me to the Serious vertex.
1