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<p>This paper sketches parallels between Brook Ziporyn’s mystical atheism, the phenomenon of humor, and the <i>Zhuangzi</i>. Mystical atheism posits a universe without any ultimate meaning or purpose, a view epitomized in the ancient Daoist philosopher Zhuangzi. Such a view risks accusations of relativism and nihilism, a concern which also commonly arises when teaching Zhuangzi. I use the experience of humor to show how ultimate meaninglessness need not consign us to nihilism or relativism. As an everyday experience, humor provides a way to understand the beatific dimension of mystical atheism, to embrace ultimate meaninglessness as salvific rather than nihilistic.</p>

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There Is No God, Everything Is Funny

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月26日

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  • Ryan Harte

摘要

This paper sketches parallels between Brook Ziporyn’s mystical atheism, the phenomenon of humor, and the Zhuangzi. Mystical atheism posits a universe without any ultimate meaning or purpose, a view epitomized in the ancient Daoist philosopher Zhuangzi. Such a view risks accusations of relativism and nihilism, a concern which also commonly arises when teaching Zhuangzi. I use the experience of humor to show how ultimate meaninglessness need not consign us to nihilism or relativism. As an everyday experience, humor provides a way to understand the beatific dimension of mystical atheism, to embrace ultimate meaninglessness as salvific rather than nihilistic.