Groucho and Principia Mathematica:Comedy and Deep Things
From Paul Johnson in 'Humorists'. Short and powerful--'In Groucho's moral universe (and all great comics have one) the destructive business of creating chaos was justified by the fascinating uncertainty--what the poet Keats called "negative capability." But Groucho also had a strong moral principle, illustrated by his assertion that "I don't want to belong to a club which would have me as a member." He was making an important philosophical point, which robustly adds another dimension to the Marx Brothers' chaos theory. It is arguable that the urge to perfection is exactly balanced by the consciousness if imperfection. Belonging to the perfect club is thus impossible to the altruist. I think that is a logical conundrum invented by Bertrand Russell, and known as 'the set of sets." I am aware that Russell liked the Marx Brothers because he told me so. But he cannot have been aware of Groucho's club problem while writing his PRINCIPIA MATHEMATICA before the First World War. Does it matter? Groucho's dilemma was a real one. It indicates the fact that the explanation of comedy takes one up to, and into, some of the deepest mysteries of existence.
Chuckster
PS: Never call a pastor who can't tell a joke.
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