20

The use of humor in ethics is not an abstract decision but a situated practice—one that is very delicate to grasp, but that yet supports a reassuring climate of care. But why is comic wisdom so little recognized, or even discredited by practical wisdom? Is there a contradiction between the seriousness of care and the ethical significance of humor? What distinguishes humor from derision? Because it is contextual, humor invites us to inhabit a situation of existence that is always singular. Thus, humor engages ethics less in the rigid form of the application of a moral principle than through the contextual force of adjustment to subtle situations. It is rooted less in the formality of the rule or principle than in the dynamism and vitality of an attitude committed to the demands of the moment or of the relationship. It activates a cunning intelligence in the exercise of the occupation over the long term by playing with the ethical standards of the seasoned professional. It establishes a) a supportive and playful relationship; b) it mobilizes a position of exteriority that tests other possibilities and resists all reification; and c) it has an elucidating and liberating impact. Finally, humor, by working on our practical beliefs, also probes the limits thereof. Putting our alienating concerns at a distance, in the third space of play, it helps us to overcome them and to dare to act.