Is humor unique to humans?

Question

Are humans the only animals (for evolutionists)/creatures (for Creationists) that engage in laughing?

Answer 1

Good question! I know that chimps can smile, other primates probably can too. I've seen videos where monkies push each over and stuff, seemingly for fun, so they may have a sense of humor, but not able to laugh the way we do.

Answer 2

I am reading a book "Jennie" by Douglas Preston about a chimp that grew up in Massachusetts with a family. It is a true story about one of the first chimps that learned sign language. The book is a series of interviews of people who knew her, grew up with her as a brother and sister, and an anthropologists who trained her. She loves to play practical jokes. She laughs. She wants to play all the time. She is really a remarkable little being that was more human than I would have thought possible. There seemed to be nothing she liked more than to make people laugh. I think she had a sense of humor. I understand the the evidence for a sense of humor may be a little hard to prove but then again, it would be hard to prove for some humans too. It may sound unbelievable, but she started hanging out with the wrong crowd, she and her rebellious human brother, and she started smoking pot and taking drugs. She was said to the be the hippest of the hip (this was back in the 1960s). The stoners loved to party with her. As disturbing as this was, it was the part of the book that really makes her seem most human to me. Then I have to think that gorillas and orangs are probably in the same boat. And maybe some Whales and dolphins, and elephants.....

Answer 3

Well, the knock-knock joke is uniquely human.

Although I'd say primates most certainly understand and have humor - you can see chimps smile, or baby gorillas playing jokes on each other.

And my personal experience also suggests animals like dogs at cats with a long history of developing with humans also exhibit humor. My dog definitely engages in games and play with me.

Answer 4

If one is to believe that teasing is humorous, then my Dog most certainly has a sense of humor. Everything from hide-n-go-seek with toys we are playing with, or even himself!!!
And I am sure I see a smile in there once in a while!

I have also witnessed, many a times, a relatives cats playing tricks on their dog. It almost seems like they have been working on the idea all day, until night falls and all the fun begins. That poor dog.......

Answer 5

I know animals engage in humor. My cat loves to hide behind the door and wait for my dog to walk by to jump out and scare the heck out of her, then the cat takes off running through the house trying to get the dog to chase her, "that's humor", and you can tell the cat is having a ball.

Laughing out loud, I don't know. I like to think that there's at least one out there, maybe laughing at us.

Answer 6

you're forgiven. human beings have tried to define what separates them from different animals for a very long term. It became as quickly as concept that human beings have been the only animals to make kit, until it became got here across that different animals make and use kit. human beings have been additionally concept to be the only animals, who've a language. this is now puzzled, and what became concept to be merely animal noises seems to have meaning for them. We do understand that many animals comprehend human language, yet are no longer bodily equipped to communicate. some have been taught sign language. have you ever watched Chimp Eden? between the Chimpanzees on the coach, became raised by making use of a woman, who became needless to say merciless to him, and he now hates women human beings. As for a humorousness and mind's eye, you will possibly be able to study Koko, the Gorilla, and captive dolphins, who instruct their running shoes new tricks. i understand because of the fact I pay interest.

Answer 7

No. The only other animal that finds humor and laughs is the hyena. They think everything is hilarious.

Answer 8

the hyenas off of the lion king

Answer 9

of course they probably do, remember, we will never for sure know whats going on in a brain

Answer 10

I don't think dogs try to tell jokes.