ABSTRACT
For Rabelais, as for Erasmus, Christianity is the 'philosophy of Christ'. It teaches men and women how to spiritualize their souls and to 'animate' their bodies. At its highest it does more. When Rabelais turned to philosophical comedy in his Tiers Livre de Pantagruel such an idea, central to Christian laughter, finds its important place. As in Erasmus, there is a warning here: the humble and meek in their madness, precisely when 'beside themselves', may be ministers of Christian truth and goodness. There are Christian fools who are madder even than Bridoye. Rabelais gives pride of place to a real-life one, a fool from birth who lived as a pet in the royal Court of France. Laughing at madness opens a gulf before our feet. Erasmus with his wit and Rabelais with his medical and legal comedy leave Christians in no doubt: genu.
