The Morality of Satire: Andrew Doyle and Stephen Blackwoo‪d‬

"To believe in truth—however hard it is to get to, however complex, however elusive, however much it escapes us at times—to believe in it is to think that there is a structure to reality which our thinking has purchase on."

How does humor work and why is it needed more than ever? Stephen Blackwood talks with comedian and political satirist Andrew Doyle (aka, Titania McGrath) as they explore the sovereignty of truth, the metaphysical implications of satire, the role of humor in friendship, and why the asking of real questions is always a reason for hope.

Timeline

• 0:00​ - Introduction
• 1:20​ - Andrew Doyle's academic background
• 3:54​ - No reality beyond language
• 7:17​ - Origins of the post-structuralist worldview
• 13:32​ - Whether this worldview can be considered religious
• 32:43​ - The inherent comprehensibility of rational thought
• 43:14​ - The purpose of Titania McGrath
• 46:09​ - How humor works
• 1:02:18​ - The humorlessness of the present age
• 1:20:10​ - Satire as optimistic
• 1:30:30​ - Critical thinking and independence of mind

Image: Anonymous, The Wild Man or the Masquerade of Orson and Valentine, 1566, The Metropolitan Museum of Art.