Does humor play an important role in life?

This is an essay made in class, and it corresponds to our English project about humor. It has the objective of fulfilling the structure of an argumentative text, dealing about a topic which hasn't been chosen by me.

Humor seems to be a general human trait. Everyone is able to laugh –as long as it's not impossible due to factors which aren't related to human nature–, and that makes humor a good way to build bonds between persons.

"Stop having fun right now!"

For instance, science seems to point out that humor plays a determining role in our lives: it turns out that laughing makes them healthier and longer. Apart from its biological benefits, though, humor has also been proven to make socializing much easier and much more enjoyable, which is crucial in contexts like workplaces.

However, there are many points of view that take humor as something unimportant or even negative. In fact, remarkable authors of the History of Western Philosophy like Plato describe humour and other pleasures and passions as something that must be avoided in order to focus on useful work for society and the gathering of knowledge.

Regarding my own opinion, as a human being –and as a rageful detractor of Plato–, I'm on the pro-humor side: it makes us feel good and it helps us bond, why should we avoid such a blessing?