Humor: A Virtue?

IT IS NOW. Now, the following work is going to be an actual philosophy blog post due on Sunday for a new class. However, I feel it works to put it over here too!

Laugh Until It's Virtuous:

Comedians have the age old role of creating laughter in the hearts of their listeners. Whether it's letting out a giggle, or laughing so hard you'll cry, having a sense of humor is what makes it all happen. Although everyone enjoys a joke or two, it seems possibly ridiculous to think that it's a virtue, right? While it has always been around, it's strange to think of it as an excellent trait necessary for all human beings. Humor can be offensive, and not fit the ideas of a perfect or morally acceptable quality. Others can claim that you may not be funny at all!

While this is a possibility, previous virtues stated by the Greek philosopher Plato are just as subjective and arguable. In his writings, he makes claims that piety, justice, wisdom, courage, and moderation are all virtuous acts. To make my own argument, humor must have a definition. If humor is to be a virtue, it is possessing the qualities to be amusing, and create comedy and laughter for others. You do this by finding out what causes others to laugh, and use that as a guideline to work on creating more jokes that appeal to many different people. Now clearly this is nothing like the ideas that surround wisdom or justice, but bringing others joy is a quality that all men need. Last time  It is always better to make someone happy rather than to cause them harm, and humor is one of the best ways to do it. To put it in an easier way, I'll format it to a Barbara argument, a categorical syllogism that provides a sound argument:

1. All attempts to make others happy are virtuous.

2. All humorous deeds are attempts to make others happy.

3. Therefore, all humorous deeds are virtuous.  

Humor also acts as a shield to the atrocities and other general unpleasant acts of the world around them. If others are down when times are tough, a person who is humorous can cheer them up in an instant, with attempts to make light of a disaster, or another topic to distract them and make them laugh. It can calm down those who are angry, which can then teach them a lesson on what they need to do to become better people. Learning the ideas that surround humor can do nothing but benefits those around you, and can certainly be considered a virtue.