Arts & Ideas
The illusion of time, the summer solstice & the philosophy of comedy
Jun 21, 2024
Guests Mark Miodownik and Emily Herring discuss the illusion of time, summer solstice, and comedy philosophy. Topics include Bergson's theory of time as duration, material time in physics, and the magical women conference in Birmingham. Comedian Rob Newman and physicist Fay Dowker contribute insights on time perception and philosophical musings on the nature of comedy.
56:36
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Quick takeaways
- Laughter stems from detachment and shared human projections onto situations, animals, or objects.
- Laughter fosters a sense of community and shared human experience, transcending individuality.
Deep dives
Bergson's Theory of Time and Comedy
Bergson's theory of comedy emphasizes the importance of disinterested observation, where laughter requires detachment from strong emotions. He suggests that laughter stems from perceiving human attitudes in situations, viewing animals or inanimate objects comically due to human projections onto them. Furthermore, he posits that laughter creates a sense of community, as shared laughter among early humans in caves helped form social bonds.
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