Philosophize This! Episode #145 ... Bergson on Laughter pt. 1 - History
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Sep 19, 2020 Dive into the intriguing world of laughter through the lens of Henri Bergson! Explore how laughter intertwines with genuine happiness and its historical baggage from ancient Greek philosophy. Uncover the dual nature of laughter as it relates to comedy, tragedy, and societal reflections. Delve into prominent theories like superiority, relief, and incongruity, revealing laughter's diverse emotional functions. Finally, question the categorization of comedy itself while gaining insights into its deeper significance.
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Comedy vs. Tragedy
- Comedy and tragedy share similarities, both presenting solutions to sociopolitical problems and subverting viewer expectations.
- Comedy uses mockery to shift public consciousness, while tragedy uses sacrifice, aiming to evoke change.
Bergson's Approach to Laughter
- Bergson's approach to laughter focuses on the relationship between humor and the internal human experience.
- He criticizes traditional philosophical approaches for neglecting the internal and focusing on rigid categorization.
Superiority Theory of Laughter
- The Superiority Theory posits that laughter stems from feeling superior to the subject of the joke.
- However, this doesn't explain laughter at oneself or pity for those less fortunate.