Laughter: An Essay on the Meaning of the Comic

Key themes

The Mechanical vs. The Living

This is the foundational principle of Bergson's theory of the comic. Laughter, he argues, arises from the perception of rigidity, automatism, or machine-like behavior where one expects the fluidity, adaptability, and spontaneity of life. It highlights the inherent tension between the dynamic, evolving nature of consciousness and the static, repetitive nature of matter or habit.

The Social Function of Laughter

Bergson argues that laughter is fundamentally a social phenomenon, impossible in isolation. Its primary purpose is not merely to express joy, but to serve as a corrective mechanism within society. Laughter, in this view, is a gentle form of punishment, a 'social gesture' that humbles and corrects individuals who display rigidity, absent-mindedness, or lack of adaptability, thereby encouraging conformity to social norms of flexibility and attentiveness.

Intelligence and Emotional Detachment

Bergson asserts that laughter appeals primarily to the intellect rather than to deep emotion or sympathy. For something to be perceived as funny, he argues, one must experience a 'momentary anesthesia of the heart,' a detachment from feelings of pity, fear, or compassion. This intellectual distance allows the observer to critically analyze the 'mechanical encrusted on the living' without being overwhelmed by emotional response.

Worth discussing

Do you agree with Bergson's assertion that 'the comic does not exist outside the pale of what is strictly human'? What about animal behavior that seems humorous?