The Laughter of Philosophers, Dictators, Madmen, and Fools
The book ‘History of Laughter’ by Reza Karim Mojavver was published by Negah Publications. This book, with an analytical and comparative approach, examines laughter from various angles, allowing the reader to understand this phenomenon beyond a simple reaction, as a part of human culture, history, and psyche.
In the introduction, the author discusses the motivation for writing the book and the importance of addressing the topic of laughter, presenting laughter alongside crying as two poles of human experience. He then addresses questions like ‘What is laughter?’, the grammar of laughter, the necessity and benefits of laughter, laughter therapy, laughter in the culture of nations and peoples, laughter in divine rituals, laughter in earthly rituals, laughter and the world of politics, laughter and royal courts, the laughter of mystics, the laughter of poets, the laughter of philosophers, the laughter of politicians, Middle Eastern laughter, the laughter of dictators, the laughter of soldiers, the laughter of painters, the laughter of madmen, the laughter of fools, the link between comedy and tragedy, laughter in Kurdish literature, virtual laughter, commercial laughter; laughter in cinema, laughter in photography, contagious laughter, laughter and Coronavirus disease, deadly laughter, laughter in the words of great figures, and finally, the outcome of laughter.
The book ‘History of Laughter’ is a thought-provoking endeavor to explore the phenomenon of laughter, not as a superficial and temporary reaction, but as a behavior deeply rooted in human history, culture, religion, and psyche. Inspired by the experience of translating ‘The History of Crying’, the author sought to explore the missing half of this human duality and examine laughter not only in relation to humor, farce, and jest, but also as a constructive, healing, and sometimes protest-driven force. He mentions the motivation for writing this book and says:
“In the days when I was busy translating ‘The History of Crying’ by the Kurdish writer and researcher Salah Hasanpahlavan, with each chapter I read and rendered, I entertained the idea of writing a book titled ‘History of Laughter’; because I felt that ‘History of Crying’ would not be complete without ‘History of Laughter’, and ‘crying’ would only find its full meaning alongside ‘laughter’. The Persian translation of ‘History of Crying’ was published by Agah Publications, and the idea of ‘History of Laughter’ stayed with me. I remember once calling the author of ‘History of Crying’ to propose writing a book titled ‘History of Laughter’ but did not receive a clear response. Gradually, I decided to take action myself and compile material on this topic.”
This book, utilizing sacred texts, historical sources, the opinions of philosophers, social observations, and lived experiences, seeks to clarify the essence and reasons for laughter, its boundaries, and its place in individual and collective human life from a comprehensive and contemplative perspective. Laughter is a way to overcome modern sorrow and treat the existential vacuum of contemporary man; a man who, despite material prosperity, is caught in a storm of loneliness and meaninglessness. The author, with a critical view of the contemporary mechanical and materialistic world, introduces laughter as a bridge between body and soul, between man and God, between suffering and liberation. This work is a dialogue between religion, mysticism, psychology, and art, which strives to show that laughing is not a sign of superficiality, but rather a manifestation of the deepest layers of hope, resistance, and meaningfulness in human life.
Speaking of Laughter and Joy in Times of Mourning
Speaking of laughter and joy in these times of mourning, grief, and sorrow might itself seem laughable to some; but the book’s author intended, for his part, to shed a faint light of joy and laughter into the heart of these sad times. He sought out books and sources written about humor, laughter, joy, their synonyms and derivatives.
He says:
“In this regard, I encountered several books (in various languages), most of which focused less on the core of laughter itself and more on its periphery, such as humor, satire, farce, and jest; although it should be noted that laughter has a close and inseparable connection with all these concepts. Among these, first and foremost, Henri Bergson’s book ‘Laughter’ must be mentioned, which primarily addresses the subject from the perspective of comic and laughable matters. Another book that must be discussed is titled ‘The Philosophy of Humor’ by John Morreall, which examines humor and related topics from the perspective of art and ethics.”
Among Persian sources, Ali Asghar Halabi’s book ‘Humor and Wit in Iran and the Islamic World’ is a reputable work that, by utilizing important historical and literary sources of the ancients, has researched humor, jest, joking, and wit in the literature of Iran and Islamic countries; although in some instances it has strayed from the main text and subject into the periphery. Other books and essays have also been written by Iranian and non-Iranian authors on the topic of laughter, humor, jest, etc., each approaching the subject from a different angle. However, what is intended in this book is primarily to delve into the secret of laughter and to examine the subject of laughter itself, rather than what causes laughter.
