Chapter V: Theories of the Ludicrous

1. The Theory of Degradation • 119

Aristotle’s theory • 120

Theory of Hobbes • 120

Prof. Bain’s theory • 121

Criticism of theory of degradation • 122

2. Theory of Contrariety or Incongruity • 125

Kant’s theory of nullified expectation • 126

Criticism of Kant’s theory • 126

Function of surprise in effect of the ludicrous • 129

Schopenhauer’s theory of incongruity • 130

Criticism of Schopenhauer’s theory • 132

Different forms of the incongruous • 134

Summary of criticism of theories • 135

Attempts to unify the two principles • 136

The laughable as failure to comply with a social requirement • 139

How primitive laughter comes into effect of the ludicrous • 140

Relation of sudden gladness to release from constraint • 141

Element of contempt in effect of the ludicrous • 142

Laughter and the play-mood • 145

The play-mood in the effects of the ludicrous • 149

Summary of results of inquiry into theories • 153

CHAPTER VI. THE ORIGIN OF LAUGHTER.

Problem of the origin of laughter in the race • 155

Supposed rudiments of mirth in animals • 156

The dog’s manifestations of a sense of fun • 159

The mirthful displays of the ape • 162

First appearance of laughter in child: date of the first smile
• 164

Date of the first laugh • 166

The laugh as following the smile • 168

Order of the two in the evolution of the race • 170

Conjecture as to genesis of the human smile • 171

How the primitive smile may have grown into the laugh • 173

Problem of the evolution of the laughter of tickling • 176

Effects of tickling in animals • 177

Date of first response to tickling in the child • 177

Tickling as inheritance from remote ancestors • 178

Value of evolutional theories of tickling • 181

How laughter may have come into tickling • 183