Béatrice Otto on Fools

What do fools have to do with managing human risk? On the face of it, they’re likely to be a driver, rather than a solution. But when we use the term to describe in the context of court jesters, then the answer might be very different.

As my guest on this episode, Béatrice Otto, helps me to understand. She’s the author of a book called Fools Are Everywhere: The Court Jester Around The World, which explores the history of the role. I’m fascinated by this from a human risk perspective because the comedy deployed by jesters provided them with a very effective vehicle for highlighting flaws in human decision-making. By permitting the jester to make jokes about what they had observed, the monarch or emperor would receive feedback they wouldn’t get from elsewhere.

In our wide-ranging discussion, we explore the role of the fool, how they came to be appointed, the limits of what they could say and some of the cunning techniques they deployed to get their point across. Béatrice explains how the role came about, why the fool no longer exists and why perhaps it should.

My thanks to my former colleague and regular listener to the show, Simon Rogerson, who first pointed out to me the relevance of court jesters to risk management.

To find out more about the issues we discuss on the show:
The book Fools Are Everywhere - https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/F/bo3615397.html

Béatrice’s website - https://www.foolsareeverywhere.com/

To sign up for her newsletter - https://www.foolsareeverywhere.com/

The job description for corporate fools - https://www.foolsareeverywhere.com/blog-fools-job-description/


If you missed the previous episodes featuring comedian and impressionist Josh Berry:
Part One - https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/josh-berry-on-comedy-satire-impressions-part-one/
Part Two - https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/josh-berry-on-comedy-satire-impressions-part-two/