Paulos: I Think Therefore I Laugh (paper) - Softcover

Paulos, J

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0231060319 ISBN 13: 9780231060318

Publisher: Columbia University Press, 1985

Synopsis

Wittgenstein once remarked that 'a serious and good philosophical work could be written that consisted entirely of jokes'. Inspired by this idea, John Allen Paulos shows how conceptual humour and analytic philosophy resonate at a very deep level. Both evince a keen concern for language and its (mis)interpretations; both require a free intelligence in a relatively open society, as well as a sceptical tendency towards debunking; and both are quintessentially human. "I Think, Therefore I Laugh" is packed with jokes, stories, parables, puzzles and anecdotes, all of which relate in one way or another to various philosophical problems, leading to some unexpected insights.

About this title

Review:

If, like me, you find fun in logical conundrums and absurdities, you will find plenty [here]. On the other hand, if youre of the type that finds people like Paulos and me tedious, you should look into his book anyway, just to see what youve been missing.

About the Author:

John Allen Paulos is professor of mathematics at Temple University and has long had an interest in analystic philosophy and its puzzles. He is the bestselling author of INNUMERACY, BEYOND NUMERACY, A MATEHEMATICIAN READS THE NEWSPAPER and ONCE UPON A NUMBER, all published by Penguin. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife and two children.

About this edition

• Publisher: Columbia University Press
• Publication date: 1985
• ISBN 10: 0231060319
• ISBN 13: 9780231060318
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 163