Main ISR Index | Main Newspaper Index
Encyclopedia of Trotskyism | Marxists’ Internet Archive
From International Socialist Review, Vol.20 No.1, Winter 1959, p.10.
Transcription & mark-up by Einde O’Callaghan for ETOL.
One of the Greek philosophers is reputed to have said that man is the laughing animal.
In light of the scientific investigations of Professor Alex Inkeles, a Harvard sociologist, the Greek view evidently requires further refinement. Prof. Inkeles has found that the laugh is a barometer of social status.
“Contrary to popular belief, the lower you are in social status, the less likely you are to report having laughed during the past day.” In addition, lower-status women are more likely to have said they have cried.
The professor reported, moreover, according to United Press (Dec. 6), that his “rule held true in warm countries such as Italy, as well as cold countries, such as Britain.”
Thus modern science must be credited with another discovery of far-reaching benefit to mankind. You can now tell a capitalist by his horse laugh.
Main ISR Index | Main Newspaper Index
Encyclopedia of Trotskyism | Marxists’ Internet Archive
Last updated on: 2 May 2009