Summary
An Essay on Laughter: Its Forms, Its Causes, Its Development and Its Value by James Sully is a pioneering work in the field of psychology and aesthetics, offering one of the earliest systematic studies of laughter as a human phenomenon.
Written in the late 19th century, the book blends philosophy, psychology, and sociology to explore why we laugh, how laughter develops, and what it reveals about human nature.
Sully examines various forms of laughter—from innocent amusement to mocking sarcasm—and investigates its origins in biological reflex, social interaction, and mental processing.
He explores how humor, wit, absurdity, and incongruity function as triggers for laughter, drawing on both contemporary theories and classical thought.
The essay also traces the development of laughter in children, proposing that it is both instinctual and socially shaped.
Sully’s approach is both analytical and humanistic, seeing laughter not just as a psychological quirk, but as a vital social tool and a sign of intellectual and emotional health.
A thoughtful and comprehensive early contribution to the science of humor, the book is of interest to readers in psychology, literary theory, anthropology, and philosophy, as well as anyone curious about the deeper meanings behind one of humanity’s most universal behaviors.