Hobbes is just a baby who got picked on... just kidding... but seriously

Blake Ogden

Trying to find the root of laughter to me is similar to trying to solve a puzzle with pieces missing. The solution is simply impossible. It seems unfeasible to believe that the root of a reaction as broad as laughter and humor might be broken down into a few small paragraphs. However, between Bergson’s and Hobbes’s arguments I agree much more with Bergson. Bergson’s statement that “laughter appears to stand in need of an echo” is very true. Even if we are to find something funny is it usually those surrounding us that help stir up our laughter. When one begins to laugh and no one else around him does, he quickly becomes silenced. Laughter helps to signify“freemasonry” as Bergson states. It is something we share. I agree with Hobbes that we may laugh at the “imperfect ions of other men”, but it is not out of superiority or cowardice. I believe it is as Bergson’s argument states the “involuntary movement of change.” This is the exact same reason we are able to laugh at ourselves when we fall and no one is around. If the root of laughter came out of pusillanimity as Hobbes argues, we would never laugh at ourselves when we fall. Instead, we do the complete opposite we laugh at ourselves and even tell our friends so they can laugh to. This all links back to the idea that “laughter is always the laughter of a group.” Many times the man who falls on the street is able to laugh just the same as those who are watching, and often times when someone of our group falls on the street we laugh much more than had it been a complete stranger. I believe Hobbes creates a very interesting view for why people laugh. He approaches laughter in a very cynical manner. Hobbes seems to have a bitter outlook towards those that laugh. It makes me believe that he is the victim of being mocked. I do believe that some people mock others, laughing at them to make themselves feel better, but I do not feel this is the majority opinion. When most people see a mentally handicapped person, they do not laugh at them. They do not have insecurities that cause them to act cowardly and mock them. While a small minority seems to need to fill a void inside my taking joy in the disabilities of others, most would help. Hobbes appears to argue that laughter is mockery and mockery alone. I agree with Bergson’s idea that laughter is a social interaction between friends rather than a childish immature act as Hobbes labels it.