The Morality of LaughterUniversity of Michigan Press, 2010 M03 25 - 256 pages “Bravo! I’ll say nothing funny about it, for it is a superior piece of work.” —P. J. O’Rourke “F. H. Buckley’s The Morality of Laughter is at once a humorous look at serious matters and a serious book about humor.” —Crisis Magazine “Buckley has written a . ne and funny book that will be read with pleasure and instruction.” —First Things “. . . written elegantly and often wittily. . . .” —National Post “. . . a fascinating philosophical exposition of laughter. . . .” —National Review “. . . at once a wise and highly amusing book.” —Wall Street Journal Online “. . . a useful reminder that a cheery society is a healthy one.” —Weekly Standard |
Contents
Part II The Normative Thesis | 47 |
Part III The Experience of Laughter | 153 |
Notes | 201 |
Bibliography | 219 |
Index | 235 |
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Common terms and phrases
aesthetic amusing answer Aristotle asked become believe butt called Cambridge Chapter comedy comes comic norms comic vice comic virtue costs court death described emotions ethics examine example excessive experience explain express fail false feel gains give grace happiness human humor hypocrite idea identified incongruity inferior integrity John joke justice kind lack laugh laughter learning less listener live London look machine matter mean mocks moral nature never noted offer Oxford parties person philosophers play pleasure political Positive problem rational reason recognize requires reveal ridicule risible rules satire seek seems seen sense share signal simply smile social society superiority tell theory thesis things thought tion told tragedy true turn University Press virtue York