Laughter: An Essay on the Meaning of the Comic - Henri Bergson

Laughter: An Essay on the Meaning of the Comic by Henri Bergson is a philosophical exploration of what makes people laugh and why. Bergson argues that comedy arises from rigidity in human behavior—when life’s flexibility is replaced by mechanical repetition or social conformity. He examines humor in characters, situations, and language to reveal its moral and social functions. Ultimately, Bergson sees laughter as society’s gentle tool for correcting foolishness and restoring vitality to human life.