Henri Bergson's essay examines the nature of laughter and the comic. It explores the social function of laughter and why certain situations and behaviors provoke it. The essay is noted for viewing laughter as a social corrective and is engaging for anyone interested in the philosophy of humor.
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Text source: gutenberg.org · The work is in the public domain.
Opening of the book
LAUGHTER AN ESSAY ON THE MEANING OF THE COMIC BY HENRI BERGSON MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTE PROFESSOR AT THE COLLEGE DE FRANCE AUTHORISED TRANSLATION BY CLOUDESLEY BRERETON L. ES L. (PARIS), M.A. (CANTAB) AND FRED ROTHWELL B.A. (LONDON) TRANSLATORS' PREFACE This work, by Professor Bergson, has been revised in detail by the author himself, and the present translation is the only authorised one. For this ungrudging labour of revision, for the thoroughness with which it has been carried out, and for personal sympathy in many a difficulty of word and phrase, we desire to offer our grateful acknowledgment to Professor Bergson. It may be pointed out that the essay on Laughter originally appeared in a series of three articles in one of the leading magazines in France, the Revue de Paris. This will account
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