French Literature Reviews - 2026
Y. Cusset, Rire. Tractatus philo-comicus
Philosophy, Anthropology and Ideas
Rire. Tractatus philo-comicus
Yves Cusset
Publication date: 21/09/2016 Publisher: Flammarion Series: Sens propre ISBN: 978-2-08-138045-5 EAN: 9782081380455 Format: Paperback No. of pages: 243 p.
To philosophize is to learn how to laugh—unless it is quite the other way around. Why, indeed, should we, following in Montaigne's footsteps, "learn how to die" when laughter can offer a far more joyful art of living? What if laughter actually had something to teach philosophy? Laughter is an authentic wisdom, yet one far more cheerful than that typically prescribed by philosophers. Indeed, few among them have explored this question, with the notable exception of the enduring Bergson.
Yet laughter and reflection are not mutually exclusive! The author, both philosopher and humorist, brilliantly demonstrates this: from humor to irony, from lightheartedness to hilarity, he examines every facet of laughter while never forgetting how to laugh. Philosophers might well be unwitting comedians—whom we ourselves have overlooked. From Democritus and his universal laughter to Schopenhauer and his radical pessimism, philosophical thought here reveals its full comedic potential.
Yves Cusset is a philosopher and actor. He regularly performs in shows of a genre entirely his own, philosophical humor ("Philosophy Taught to My Owl", "Not Being Born"). His publications include, among others, The Dream Life of Philosophers.
The philosophical investigation of laughter has a long history, often centered on the tension between rational discourse and the nature of humor. While thinkers like Henri Bergson analyzed laughter as a social corrective, the tradition frequently contrasts the seriousness of metaphysical inquiry with the perceived frivolity of comedy. By engaging with figures ranging from Democritus to Schopenhauer, this work situates itself within a broader intellectual lineage that questions whether the pursuit of wisdom must necessarily be a somber endeavor or if it can incorporate the lighter aspects of human experience.
This text examines the spectrum of humor, from irony to hilarity, and suggests that philosophical thought possesses a comedic dimension. It explores how laughter functions as a form of wisdom and considers the potential for philosophers to be viewed as comedians. Readers interested in the intersection of philosophy and humor may find this exploration of the comic potential within historical thought relevant to their interests.