Philosophize This! Episode #146 ... Bergson on Laughter pt. 2 - Vitalism
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Oct 20, 2020 Explore Henri Bergson's captivating theories on laughter as a social tool that corrects mechanical behaviors and fosters a vibrant society. Discover how laughter combats conformity and helps individuals navigate social norms. Delve into the complexity of humor with Bergson's hybrid theory, which merges different perspectives on laughter's role in enhancing personal joy and community vitality. The discussion also incorporates Kierkegaard's insights, emphasizing the need for balance in humor.
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Bergson's Duration
- Bergson believes our spatial understanding of time distorts its true nature, which he calls duration.
- Duration is a continuous, holistic process, unlike the separate units we perceive as seconds.
Vitalism vs. Mechanism
- Bergson contrasts the mechanistic view, which sees the universe as a machine, with vitalism.
- Vitalism views life as a singular, continuous process, irreducible to its parts.
Élan Vital and Evolution
- Bergson critiques mechanistic and teleological explanations of evolution.
- He proposes the élan vital, a vital impulse driving creative evolution and species differentiation.