Descartes, Spencer, and Freud Readings

Caroline Kunz
Dr. Ellis
EN 446
13 February 2023
Descartes and Spencer's Theories of Laughter

     Over the course of these readings, I found it difficult to grasp the idea that laughter can be caused by hatred. Typically when I think of laughter, I think of positive and joyful experiences, as opposed to those that are negative or distressing. Therefore, I was surprised to read Descartes' claims that "although it seems as though laughter were one of the principle signs of joy, nevertheless joy cannot cause it except when it is moderate and has some wonder or hate mingled with it" (22). He believes that, when one is joyful, the lungs are too full with blood to allow for laughter to physically occur. On the other hand, laughter can be so easily associated with hatred, as, in his opinion, it is common to laugh at our enemies when they experience the troubles we feel they deserve. This concept was difficult to apply to my own life, as I find myself laughing and smiling more easily during times of great joy than during times of hatred or pain. For these reasons, I found it challenging to reconcile Descartes' physical theories of laughter with the emotional and mental state of laughter that I am used to in my own personal experience. 
         While Descartes' philosophical theory of laughter was difficult to understand, I felt that I was able to better resonate with Spencer's. I appreciated that he combined both the physical and emotional reasoning behind laughter. He claims that laughter is a "state we call feeling, that must expend itself in some direction" (103). He identifies laughter as an involuntary action resulting from a gradual buildup of tension in the body. He compares the release of laughter to common, natural bodily functions such as sneezing or digesting food - in other words, it is vital for the tension that builds up when we see something humorous to be released. Further, Spencer claims that "the deepest grief is a silent grief," and therefore, we can ease the pain of grief by sharing it with others. In a similar way, we better ourselves by releasing our laughter fully, as it allows us to "appreciate the comic" (103). With these insights, Spencer presents laughter as a necessary part of the human experience. Laughter is as important as the food we digest and the air that we breathe. I appreciate this theory, as I have always believed that laughter is a necessary part of our daily lives. When I am laughing with my friends and family, I truly experience the necessary emotional release that Spencer depicts. I feel lighter after I have had a good laugh, often experiencing a release of endorphins and happiness. Thus, because I was able to better apply this theory of laughter to my personal life, I was able to better understand Spencer's theories as a whole.

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