Laughter: An Essay on the Meaning of the Comic by Henri Bergson

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About this eBook

Author Bergson, Henri, 1859-1941
Translator Brereton, Cloudesley, 1863-1937
Translator Rothwell, Fred, 1869-1934
Uniform Title Le rire. English
Title Laughter: An Essay on the Meaning of the Comic
Note Translation of: Le rire.
Credits Produced by Steve Harris, Charles Franks and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team. HTML version by Al Haines.
Summary "Laughter: An Essay on the Meaning of the Comic" by Henri Bergson is a philosophical essay written in the early 20th century. The work explores the nature of humor and laughter, diving into various aspects of the comic and presenting a novel theory regarding its roots in human psychology and social interactions. Bergson examines how the comic influences human behavior, suggesting that laughter often serves a corrective function within society. The opening of the essay introduces Bergson's inquiry into the essence of laughter, questioning its underlying principles and the reasons behind why certain actions evoke a comedic response. He emphasizes the social aspect of laughter, noting its connection to shared human experiences and the importance of the comic in understanding social dynamics. Through observations about rigid behaviors and absent-mindedness in human actions, Bergson sets the tone for an analysis that seeks to connect the comic phenomenon with broader themes of life and art. By outlining the role of the comic as a reflection of human social interaction, he sets the stage for exploring further definitions and examples of comedy in different forms. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class PN: Language and Literatures: Literature: General, Criticism, Collections
Subject Comedy
Subject Philosophy, French
Subject Laughter
Category Text
EBook-No. 4352
Release Date
Most Recently Updated Dec 27, 2020
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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