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Theories of Wit. From Rhetorics to Psychoanalysis
Theorien des Witzes. Von der Rhetorik zur Psychoanalyse
Last Updated: 2026-06-01 11:31:13
Abstract
"Wit" is not simply a comic punch line, but a complex form of thinking, writing and knowing. The theoretical definition of wit encompassesphilosophical, aesthetic and epistemological aspects alike. Historically, it ranges from ancient rhetoric to philosophy of life and psychoanalysis in the modern era.
Objective
This seminar deals with the meaning and history of "Witz" (wit, joke) as a form of knowledge. It places "Witz" as a transitional figure within the development of modern theories of knowledge and literature.
Content
The wit is not only a central aspect of the comic, but also a complex form of thinking, writing and knowledge in general. Its principle consists, among other things, in juxtaposing differences and oppositions. In this sense, the joke played a central function as a philosophical, rhetorical and poetic form until the 19th century. In the 19th century, the joke was increasingly associated with the function of the comic and thus also with the generation of laughter. Around 1900, this led to complex philosophical, political and psychoanalytic theories that attributed a central function to the joke (Henri Bergson, Mikhail Bakhtin, Sigmund Freud).
General Information
- Language
- German
- Levels
- DS , MSC
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| seminar | Theorien des Witzes. Von der Rhetorik zur Psychoanalyse |
|
2 h weekly |
Offered In
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Wissenschaft im Kontext (Science in Perspective) (In Kursen aus dem Programm “Wissenschaft im Kontext” lernen Studierende, die MINT Fächer der ETH aus der Perspektive der Geistes-, Sozial- und Staatswissenschaften zu reflektieren. Nur die in diesem Abschnitt aufgelisteten Fächer können als "Wissenschaft im Kontext" angerechnet werden.)
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Typ A: Förderung allgemeiner Reflexionskompetenz (WiK-Kurse werden für Bachelorstudierende nach dem ersten Studienjahr sowie für alle Masterstudierende und Doktorierende empfohlen. Alle WiK-Kurse sind in Typ A gelistet. Bei den unter Typ B aufgeführten Kursen handelt es sich lediglich um Belegungsempfehlungen für bestimmte Departemente.)
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