Question

Which of the following is NOT considered a similarity between comedy and existentialism?

Option 1: Both tend to focus on hedonism rather than depressing topics.
Option 2: Both tend to focus on more problematic sides of life.
Option 3: Both tend to examine absurdities in life.
Option 4: Both see a categorical difference between a person and a thing.

Answer 1

The option that does not represent a similarity between comedy and existentialism is the focus on hedonism; comedy aims for humor and existentialism often addresses serious life contemplations including awareness and freedom. Hence, option 1 is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

The option that is NOT considered a similarity between comedy and existentialism is: Option 1: Both tend to focus on hedonism rather than depressing topics.

While both comedy and existentialism do tend to examine the absurdities of life and can sometimes focus on more problematic aspects, comedy typically ends on a positive note aimed to generate laughter and happiness, whereas existentialism involves a heavy focus on human existence, freedom, and authentic emotions, which can often tend toward more sobering and serious contemplations.

Existentialism, as presented by philosophers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus, emphasizes the distinction between a being who is conscious and free (being-for-itself) and an inert object (being-in-itself), which suggests a categorical difference between a person and a thing. This is fundamentally different from the practical and often lighthearted questions present in comedy.