PART 1. Preliminaries

Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter I
2. Preface VII
3. Contents IX
4. PART 1. Preliminaries
5. PART 1. Preliminaries 1
6. Chapter 1. The mystery of humor and sundry further matters 3
7. Chapter 2. The fundamental question of humor theory 28
8. PART 2. Theory L and reason to conclude it is true
9. PART 2. Theory L and reason to conclude it is true 35
10. Chapter 3. Theory L 37
11. Chapter 4. The laughter of humor, relaxation, and pleasure 50
12. Chapter 5. The inapplicability of standard criticisms of “relief” theories 60
13. Chapter 6. The explanatory power of theory L 68
14. PART 3. Incongruity theory and reason to conclude it is unsound
15. PART 3. Incongruity theory and reason to conclude it is unsound 99
16. Chapter 7. Incongruity theory and the concept of incongruity 101
17. Chapter 8. First probe of incongruity theory: two complementary arguments 126
18. Chapter 9. Second probe of incongruity theory: its collapse into cognitive-shift theory 136
19. Chapter 10. Third probe of incongruity theory: its lack of explanatory power 154
20. Chapter 11. Fourth probe of incongruity theory: sundry arguments and points 202
21. PART 4. Further development
22. PART 4. Further development 219
23. Chapter 12. Kant and Koestler on humor 221
24. Chapter 13. The ultimate incongruity thesis and concluding reflections 231
25. Summary of the case for theory L 237
26. References 239
27. Permissions 243
28. Index 247