Laughter is one of the unsolved problems of philosophy. (Monro 1963:13)

We are still without an adequate general theory of laughter (Morreall 1987:128)

Philosophical literature on humor is both minimal and entrenched in a logical space and language inadequate to the scope and complexities of the subject. (Rucki 1993)

Humor is a pervasive feature of human life...yet its nature is elusive. It has generated little theoretical interest. (LaFollett & Shanks 1993)