The Philosophy of Laughter and Humor

by John Morreall

Book Overview

This book assesses the adequacy of the traditional theories of laughter and humor, suggests revised theories, and explores such areas as the aesthetics and ethics of humor, and the relation of amusement to other mental states. Theories of laughter and humor originated in ancient times with the view that laughter is an expression of feelings of superiority over another person. This superiority theory was held by Plato, Aristotle, and Hobbes. Another...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0887063268
• ISBN13: 9780887063268
• Release Date: December 1986
• Publisher: State University of New York Press
• Length: 285 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.