Some of my references and source material comes form the works of Michael Dummet and Helen Farley, both of whom take materialist and historical approach to the cards. This is not to imply that I have discarded all mystical views of the cards, quite the opposite, I find the game of Tarot to be quite mystical and the perfect medium for divination.
In the earliest depiction of the Fool found in the Visconti Sforza deck, we see an image of a man in tattered clothes that only cover the upper half of his body. His face and physical features suggest that he suffers from a form of cretinism. The goiter on his neck, the nearness of his eyes, and clubbed hands and foot tell a story of severe physical and likely mental deformity. Upon his head there are seven feathers that likely symbolize the seven deadly sins, and in his hand he holds a club.
This imagery conjures the idea of baser nature of humanity that is driven by impulse rather than logic. His lake of care for his appearance is that of someone who has no interest in social conformity or rather a complete lack of awareness of it. The club in his hand is on the shoulder ready to be swung without regard or care of the outcome. He is a brutal figure and reminds us of our less than rational nature.
Other images of the card that would later appear would show him with a dog, typically biting at his legs, buttocks, or even his scrotum. The dog being representative of affliction that is driving these baser impulses. The image of the dog and affliction reminds us of the image of St Lazarus whose sores are being licked by dogs. Waite would keep the image of the dog in his own deck which would serve as the foundation of most modern tarot imagery.
When we compare the previous imagery of the Fool to the Waite interpretation we see a more care-free portrayal of man whose idealism has him looking towards the heavens as he walks next to precipice. In his hand he holds a white rose as a symbol of purity, which is somewhat ironic given the earlier depictions of the card. I can be said that there is an innocence in foolishness, however, the consequences will be equally as dire.
Aleister Crowley would have the most bizarre interpretation of the Fool as being an image of complete liberation, happiness, and joy. Crowley was a former member of the Golden Dawn who would move on to start his own esoteric order proclaiming himself as prophet of the New Aeon. He carried on the Golden Dawn tradition of attempting to shoehorn ideas from different systems into his system of Thelema. As such he changed many things in the Tarot to better fit his magical philosophies. His tarot deck called Thoth is available to this day and has also become a very influential part of modern Tarot.
My personal interpretation of this card sides with the earlier symbolism. I believe that the Fool is warning the client of overly embracing their lower self and putting to risk what is important and necessary socially speaking. The Fool is affliction and leads to sorrow for people that can't recognize their own behavior and how it affects them and others. Without cards to weaken the Fool present in the reading the client needs to take a step back re-evaluate themselves and what is driving their ambitions.
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