Koestler, Arthur - The Act of Creation

7/27/2019 Koestler, Arthur - The Act of Creation

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THE ACT OF CREATIONby

Arthur Koestler

AUTHOR'S PREFACE

The first part of this book proposes a theory of the at of reatio! "" of the o!sious a!#u!o!sious proesses u!#erlyi!$ sie!tifi #iso%ery& artisti ori$i!ality& a!# oii!spiratio!( It e!#ea%ours to sho) that all reati%e ati%ities ha%e a basi patter! i!oo!& a!# to outli!e that patter!(

The ai of *ook T)o is to sho) that ertai! basi pri!iples operate throu$hout the )holeor$a!i hierarhy "" fro the fertili+e# e$$ to the fertile brai! of the reati%e i!#i%i#ual,a!# that phe!oe!a a!alo$ous to reati%e ori$i!ality a! be fou!# o! all le%els(

A!yo!e )ho )rites o! a ople- sub.et ust lear! that he a!!ot ai o!e arro) at t)otar$ets( *ook O!e is aie# at the $e!eral rea#er, soe of the hapters i! *ook T)opresuppose a loser a/uai!ta!e )ith urre!t tre!#s i! biolo$y a!# e-perie!talpsyholo$y& a!# are rather teh!ial( There is a! u!a%oi#able #iffere!e i! style bet)ee!the t)o parts0 i! the first& I a%oi#e# pe#a!try at the ost of oasio!al lapses i!to a looseteri!olo$y, i! the seo!# this )as !ot possible( Rea#ers )ho fi!# ertai! passa$es i! theseo!# part too teh!ial a! safely skip the a!# pik up the threa# later o! )ithout losi!$si$ht of the $e!eral i#ea( Its leitotifs are restate# o! %arious le%els throu$hout the book(

It ay see a presuptuous u!#ertaki!$ to i!/uire i!to the biolo$ial ori$i!s of e!talreati%ity )he! )e are still u!able to #efi!e the heistry of a siple usle t)ith( *utofte! i! the history of i#eas )e fi!# t)o opposite etho#s at )ork0 the '#o)!)ar#'approah fro the ople- to the elee!tary& fro the )hole to its opo!e!t parts& a!#the 'up)ar#' approah fro part to )hole( The ephasis o! either of these etho#s ayalter!ate aor#i!$ to philosophial fashio!& u!til they eet a!# er$e i! a !e) sy!thesis(It )oul# ha%e bee! as ipossible to buil# theoretial physis o! a fou!#atio! of itselee!tary partiles 1)hih tur! out to be ore a!# ore baffli!$2 as it has pro%e#ipossible to buil# a theory of psyholo$y o! 'elee!tary refle-es' a!# 'atos ofbeha%iour'( 3ie %ersa& )ithout the assuptio! that ople- atter o!siste# of atoiparts& )hate%er they are& physis a!# heistry oul# !ot ha%e e%ol%e#(

I ha%e trie# to obi!e both etho#s by hoosi!$ as y starti!$ poi!t a phe!oe!o!)hih is at the sae tie ople- a!# siple& i! )hih a subtle i!telletual proess issi$!alle# by a $ross physiolo$ial refle-0 the phe!oe!o! of lau$hter( Huour is a!elusi%e thi!$& so is the rai!bo), yet the stu#y of oloure# spetra pro%i#e# lues to theelee!tary struture of atter(

A prelii!ary outli!e of this theory )as publishe# i! 4565 u!#er the title Insight andOutlook( It )as i!te!#e# as the first of t)o %olues& a!# its prefae o!tai!e# theoptiisti se!te!e0 '3olue T)o is i! preparatio! a!# )ill& it is hope#& appear t)el%e


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o!ths after the first(' The t)el%e o!ths ha%e $ro)! i!to fiftee! years( Partly beause Ibeae i!%ol%e# )ith other sub.ets, but ai!ly beause I felt #issatisfie# )ith that firstattept& a!# felt the !ee# to base the theory o! a broa#er fou!#atio!( I kept retur!i!$ to iti! bet)ee! other books& but eah tie the broa#e!i!$ proess !eessitate# a! e-ursio!i!to soe relate# fiel# a!#& as ofte! happe!s& these e-ursio!s a/uire# a oe!tu of

their o)!( O!e hapter o! 'a!'s ha!$i!$ %isio! of the u!i%erse' $re) i!to a separate bookof ore tha! si- hu!#re# pa$es, 748 so #i# a!other hapter& o! Easter! ystiis( 798 A!#)he! at last I felt rea#y to )rite that lo!$"postpo!e# seo!# %olue I fou!# that I ha# tosrap the first a!# be$i! a$ai! at the be$i!!i!$( The )hole theoretial frae)ork ha# to bere%ise# a!# e%e! the t!i!olo$y ha!$e#( Rea#ers a/uai!te# )ithInsight and Outlook)ill !otie& ho)e%er& that I ha%e take! o%er& or paraphrase#& passa$es fro it )hih see toha%e )eathere# the tie, to a%oi# te#iu I ha%e oitte# /uotatio! arks( I ha%e alsoi!orporate# i!to the te-t e-trats fro letures $i%e! at E!$lish a!# Aeria! u!i%ersities&)ith the ki!# perissio! of the authorities o!er!e#(

Suaries appear at irre$ular i!ter%als at the e!#s of hapters or setio!s )here I felt thatthey i$ht be helpful( Asterisks refer to te-t !otes& i!#e- !ubers to soure refere!es(

I ha%e !o illusio!s about the prospets of the theory I a proposi!$0 it )ill suffer thei!e%itable fate of bei!$ pro%e! )ro!$ i! a!y& or ost& #etails& by !e) a#%a!es i!psyholo$y a!# !eurolo$y( :hat I a hopi!$ for is that it )ill be fou!# to o!tai! asha#o)y patter! of truth& a!# that it ay stiulate those )ho searh for u!ity& i! the#i%erse a!ifestatio!s of hua! thou$ht a!# eotio!(

I a #eeply i!#ebte# to Professor Sir Cyril *urt& a!# to Professor Hol$er Hy#e!&U!i%ersity of ;othe!bur$& for rea#i!$ the a!usript& for their orretio!s& ritiiss a!#e!oura$ee!t, to Professor


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I

THE =O;IC OF =AU;HTERThe Triptyh

The three pa!els of the rou!#e# triptyh sho)! o! the fro!tispiee i!#iate three #oai!sof reati%ity )hih sha#e i!to eah other )ithout sharp bou!#aries0 Huour&


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O! the other si#e of the triptyh the bou!#aries bet)ee! #iso%ery a!# oi i!%e!tio! aree/ually flui# "" as the prese!t hapter )ill sho) "" althou$h at first si$ht this is less ob%iousto see( That the ?ester shoul# be brother to the Sa$e ay sou!# like blasphey& yet ourla!$ua$e reflets the lose relatio!ship0 the )or# ')ittiis' is #eri%e# fro ')it' i! itsori$i!al se!se of i!$e!uity& i!%e!ti%e!ess(D ?ester a!# sa%a!t ust both 'li%e o! their )its',

a!# )e shall see that the ?ester's ri##les pro%i#e a useful bak"#oor e!try& as it )ere& i!tothe i!!er )orkshop of reati%e ori$i!ality(

The =au$hter Refle-

=au$hter is a refle-( The )or# refle-& as Sir Charles Sherri!$to! sai#& is a useful fitio!(Ho)e%er uh its #efi!itio!s a!# o!!otatio!s #iffer aor#i!$ to %arious shools "" it hasi! fat bee! the e!tral battle$rou!# of psyholo$y for the last fifty years "" !o o!e is likelyto /uarrel )ith the statee!t that )e are the ore .ustifie# to all a! or$a!is's beha%iour'refle-' the ore it resebles the atio! of a eha!ial slot"ahi!e, that is to say& theore i!sta!ta!eous& pre#itable& a!# stereotype# it is( :e ay also use the sy!o!ys'autoati'& 'i!%olu!tary'& et(& )hih soe psyholo$ists #islike, they are i! fat iplie# i!the pre%ious se!te!e(

Spo!ta!eous lau$hter is pro#ue# by the oor#i!ate# o!tratio! of fiftee! faial uslesi! a stereotype# patter! a!# aopa!ie# by altere# breathi!$( The follo)i!$ is a#esriptio! abri#$e# fro Sully's lassi essay o! the sub.et(

Sili!$ i!%ol%es a ople- $roup of faial o%ee!ts( It ay suffie to rei!# the rea#erof suh harateristi ha!$es as the #ra)i!$ bak a!# sli$ht lifti!$ of the or!ers of theouth& the raisi!$ of the upper lip& )hih partially u!o%ers the teeth& a!# the ur%i!$ ofthe furro)s bet)i-t the or!ers of the outh a!# the !ostrils 1the !aso"labial furro)s2( Tothese ust be a##e# the foratio! of )ri!kles u!#er the eye& )hih is a further result of thefirst o%ee!t ( ( ( a!# the i!rease# bri$ht!ess of the eyes(

These faial ha!$es are oo! to the sile a!# the lau$h& thou$h i! the ore %iole!tfors of lau$hter the eyes are apt to lose u!#er their lahryal suffusio! the sparkle )hihthe sile bri!$s(

:e ay !o) pass to the lar$er e-perie!e of the au#ible lau$h( That this atio! isphysiolo$ially o!ti!uous )ith the sile has alrea#y bee! su$$este#( ( ( ( Ho) loselyo!!ete# are sili!$ a!# o#erate lau$hi!$ ay be see! by the te!#e!y )e e-perie!e)he! )e reah the broa# sile a!# the fully ope! outh to start the respiratory o%ee!tsof lau$hter( As


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:e ay !o) tur! to the #isti!$uishi!$ harateristis of lau$hi!$, that is& the pro#utio!of the failiar series of sou!#s( ( ( ( 748

*ut these #o !ot o!er! us yet( The poi!t to retai! is the o!ti!uity of the sale lea#i!$

fro the fai!t sile to Hoeri lau$hter& o!fire# by laboratory e-perie!ts( Eletrialstiulatio! of the '+y$oati a.or&' the ai! lifti!$ usle of the upper lip& )ith urre!tsof %aryi!$ i!te!sity& pro#ues e-pressio!s ra!$i!$ fro sile to broa# $ri! to the faialo!tortio!s typial of lou# lau$hter( 798 Other researhers a#e fils of tikle# babies a!#of hysteris to )ho tikli!$ )as o!%eye# by su$$estio!( They a$ai! sho)e# the refle-s)iftly i!reasi!$ fro the first fai!t faial o!tratio! to paro-yss of shaki!$ a!#hoki!$ "" as the /uiksil%er i! a theroeter& #ippe# i!to hot )ater& rapi#ly ou!ts to there# ark(

These $ra#atio!s of i!te!sity !ot o!ly #eo!strate the refle- harater of lau$hter but atthe sae tie pro%i#e a! e-pla!atio! for the rih %ariety of its fors "" fro Rabelaisia!lau$hter at a spiy .oke to the rarefie# sile of ourtesy( *ut there are a##itio!al reaso!s toaou!t for this o!fusi!$ %ariety( Refle-es #o !ot operate i! a %auu, they are to a$reater or lesser e-te!t i!terfere# )ith by hi$her !er%ous e!tres, thus i%ili+e# lau$hter israrely /uite spo!ta!eous( Ausee!t a! be fei$!e# or suppresse#, to a fai!t i!%olu!taryrespo!se )e ay a## at )ill a #isreet hukle or a leo!i!e roar, a!# habit"foratio! soo!rystalli+es these refle-"plus"prete!e aal$as i!to harateristi properties of a perso!(

Furtherore& the sae usle o!tratio!s pro#ue #iffere!t effets aor#i!$ to )hetherthey e-pose a set of pearly teeth or a toothless $ap "" pro#ui!$ a sile& a siper& or sirk(>oo# also superiposes its o)! faial patter! "" he!e $ay lau$hter& ela!holy sile&lasi%ious $ri!( =astly& o!tri%e# lau$hter a!# sili!$ a! be use# as a o!%e!tio!al si$!al"la!$ua$e to o!%ey pleasure or ebarrasse!t& frie!#li!ess or #erisio!( :e are o!er!e#&ho)e%er& o!ly )ith spo!ta!eous lau$hter as a speifi respo!se to the oi, re$ar#i!$)hih )e a! o!lu#e )ith otor refle-es&usually e-eplifie# i! te-tbooks by k!ee".erk or pupillary o!tratio!& are relati%elysiple& #iret respo!ses to e/ually siple stiuli )hih& u!#er !oral irusta!es&fu!tio! auto!oously& )ithout re/uiri!$ the i!ter%e!tio! of hi$her e!tal proesses, bye!abli!$ the or$a!is to ou!ter #isturba!es of a fre/ue!tly et type )ith sta!#ar#i+e#reatio!s& they represe!t ei!e!tly pratial arra!$ee!ts i! the ser%ie of sur%i%al( *ut)hat is the sur%i%al %alue of the i!%olu!tary& siulta!eous o!tratio! of fiftee! faialusles assoiate# )ith ertai! !oises )hih are ofte! irrepressible =au$hter is a refle-&but u!i/ue i! that it ser%es !o appare!t biolo$ial purpose, o!e i$ht all it a lu-ury refle-(Its o!ly utilitaria! fu!tio!& as far as o!e a! see& is to pro%i#e teporary relief froutilitaria! pressures( O! the e%olutio!ary le%el )here lau$hter arises& a! elee!t of fri%olitysees to reep i!to a huourless u!i%erse $o%er!e# by the la)s of thro#y!ais a!# the


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sur%i%al of the fittest(

The para#o- a! be put i! a #iffere!t )ay( It strikes us as a reaso!able arra!$ee!t that asharp li$ht sho!e i!to the eye akes the pupil o!trat& or that a pi! stuk i!to o!e's footauses its i!sta!t )ith#ra)al "" beause both the 'stiulus' a!# the 'respo!se' are o! the

sae physiolo$ial le%el( *ut that a opliate# e!tal ati%ity like the rea#i!$ of a pa$eby Thurber shoul# ause a speifi otor respo!se o! the refle- le%el is a lopsi#e#phe!oe!o! )hih has pu++le# philosophers si!e a!ti/uity(

There are& of ourse& other ople- i!telletual a!# eotio!al ati%ities )hih alsopro%oke bo#ily reatio!s "" fro)!i!$& ya)!i!$& s)eati!$& shi%eri!$& )hat ha%e you( *ut theeffets o! the !er%ous syste of rea#i!$ a Shakespeare so!!et& )orki!$ o! a atheatialproble& or liste!i!$ to >o+art are #iffuse a!# i!#efi!able( There is !o lear"utpre#itable respo!se to tell e )hether a piture i! the art $allery strikes a!other %isitor as'beautiful', but there is a pre#itable faial o!tratio! )hih tells e )hether a ariaturestrikes hi as 'oi('

Humour is the only domain of creative activity where a stimulus on a high level ofcomplexity produces a massive and sharply defined response on the level of physiologicalreflexes.This para#o- e!ables us to use the respo!se as a! i!#iator for the prese!e of thatelusi%e /uality& the oi& )hih )e are seeki!$ to #efi!e "" as the tell"tale liki!$ of the$ei$er"ou!ter i!#iates the prese!e of ra#ioati%ity( A!# si!e the oi is relate# toother& ore e-alte#& fors of reati%ity& the bak#oor approah proises to yiel# soepositi%e results( :e all k!o) that there is o!ly o!e step fro the sublie to the ri#iulous,the ore surprisi!$ that Psyholo$y has !ot o!si#ere# the possible $ai!s )hih oul#result fro the re%ersal of that step(

The biblio$raphy of ;rei$'s Psychology of Laughter and omedy& publishe# i! 459&e!tio!e# three hu!#re# a!# si-ty"three titles of )orks beari!$ partly or e!tirely o! thesub.et "" fro Plato a!# Aristotle to Ka!t& *er$so!& a!# Freu#( At the tur! of the e!tury T(A( Ribot sue# up these attepts at forulati!$ a theory of the oi0 '=au$htera!ifests itself i! suh %arie# a!# hetero$e!eous o!#itio!s ( ( ( that the re#utio! of allthese auses to a si!$le o!e reai!s a %ery probleatial u!#ertaki!$( After so uh )orkspe!t o! suh a tri%ial phe!oe!o!& the proble is still far fro bei!$ opletelye-plai!e#(' 78 This )as )ritte! i! 45@, si!e the! o!ly t)o !e) theories of iporta!eha%e bee! a##e# to the list0 *er$so!'s Le !ire a!# Freu#'s "it and its !elations to the#nconscious( I shall ha%e oasio! to refer to the(D

The #iffiulty lies e%i#e!tly i! the e!orous ra!$e of lau$hter"pro#ui!$ situatio!s "" frophysial tikli!$ to e!tal titillatio! of the ost %arie# ki!#s( I shall try to sho) that thereis u!ity i! this %ariety, that the oo! #e!oi!ator is of a speifi a!# speifiable patter!)hih is of e!tral iporta!e !ot o!ly i! huour but i! all #oai!s of reati%e ati%ity(The baillus of lau$hter is a bu$ #iffiult to isolate, o!e brou$ht u!#er the irosope& it)ill tur! out to be a yeast"like& u!i%ersal fere!t& e/ually useful i! aki!$ )i!e or %i!e$ar&a!# raisi!$ brea#(

The =o$i of =au$hter0 A First Approah


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Soe of the stories that follo)& i!lu#i!$ the first& I o)e to y late frie!# ?oh! %o!Neua!!& )ho ha# all the aki!$s of a huorist0 he )as a atheatial $e!ius a!# heae fro *u#apest(

T)o )oe! eet )hile shoppi!$ at the superarket i! the *ro!-( O!e looks heerful& theother #epresse#( The heerful o!e i!/uires0 ':hat's eati!$ you' 'Nothi!$'s eati!$ e(''ar/uis at the ourt of =ouis I3 )ho& o! e!teri!$ his )ife'sbou#oir a!# fi!#i!$ her i! the ars of a *ishop& )alke# ally to the )i!#o) a!# )e!tthrou$h the otio!s of blessi!$ the people i! the street(

':hat are you #oi!$' rie# the a!$uishe# )ife( '>o!sei$!eur is perfori!$ y fu!tio!s&'replie# the >ar/uis& 'so I a perfori!$ his('*oth stories& thou$h appare!tly /uite #iffere!t a!# i! their ori$i! ore tha! a e!tury

apart& follo) i! fat the sae patter!( The Chafort a!e#ote o!er!s a#ultery, let usopare it )ith a tra$i treate!t of that sub.et "" say& i! the >oor of 3e!ie( I! thetra$e#y the te!sio! i!reases u!til the lia- is reahe#0 Othello stra!$les ar/uis' u!e-pete# reatio!& )hih #ebu!ks our #raati e-petatio!s, it oes like abolt out of the blue& )hih& so to speak& #eapitates the lo$ial #e%elope!t of the situatio!(The !arrati%e ate# as a ha!!el #ireti!$ the flo) of eotio!, )he! the ha!!el ispu!ture# the eotio! $ushes out like a li/ui# throu$h a burst pipe, the te!sio! is su##e!lyrelie%e# a!# e-plo#e# i! lau$hter 1Fi$( 4&b20


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I sai# that this effet )as brou$ht about by the >ar/uis' u!e-pete# reatio!( Ho)e%er&

u!e-pete#!ess alo!e is !ot e!ou$h to pro#ue a oi effet( The ruial poi!t about the>ar/uis' beha%iour is that it is both u!e-pete# a!# perfetly lo$ial "" but of a lo$i !otusually applie# to this type of situatio!( It is the lo$i of the #i%isio! of labour& the /ui# pro/uo& the $i%e a!# take, but our e-petatio! )as that the >ar/uis' atio!s )oul# be$o%er!e# by a #iffere!t lo$i or o#e of beha%iour( It is the lash of the t)o utuallyi!opatible o#es& or assoiati%e o!te-ts& )hih e-plo#es the te!sio!(

I! the Oe#ipus story )e fi!# a siilar #ash( The heerful )oa!'s statee!t is rule# by thelo$i of oo! se!se0 if ?iy is a $oo# boy a!# lo%es his aa there a!'t be uh)ro!$( *ut i! the o!te-t of Freu#ia! psyhiatry the relatio!ship to the other arriese!tirely #iffere!t assoiatio!s(

The patter! u!#erlyi!$ both stories is the perceiving of a situation or idea$ L$ in two self%consistent but habitually incompatible frames of reference$ &' and &(1Fi$( 92( The e%e!t=& i! )hih the t)o i!terset& is a#e to %ibrate siulta!eously o! t)o #iffere!t)a%ele!$ths& as it )ere( :hile this u!usual situatio! lasts& = is !ot erely li!ke# to o!eassoiati%e o!te-t& but bisoiate# )ith t)o(


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I ha%e oi!e# the ter 'bisoiatio!' i! or#er to ake a #isti!tio! bet)ee! the routi!e skillsof thi!ki!$ o! a si!$le 'pla!e'& as it )ere& a!# the reati%e at& )hih& as I shall try to sho)&al)ays operates o! ore tha! o!e pla!e( The forer ay be alle# si!$le"i!#e#& the lattera #ouble"i!#e#& tra!sitory state of u!stable e/uilibriu )here the bala!e of both

eotio! a!# thou$ht is #isturbe#( The fors )hih this reati%e i!stability takes i! sie!ea!# art )ill be #isusse# later, first )e ust test the %ali#ity of these $e!erali+atio!s i!other fiel#s of the oi(

At the tie )he! ?oh! :ilkes )as the hero of the poor a!# lo!ely& a! ill")isher i!fore#hi $leefully0 'It sees that soe of your faithful supporters ha%e tur!e# their oats(''Ipossible&' :ilkes a!s)ere#( 'Not o!e of the has a oat to tur!('

I! the happy #ays ofLa !onde& a #ashi!$ but pe!!iless you!$ Austria! offier trie# toobtai! the fa%ours of a fashio!able ourtesa! To shake off this u!)a!te# suitor& shee-plai!e# to hi that her heart )as& alas& !o lo!$er free( He replie# politely0

'>a#eoiselle& I !e%er aie# as hi$h as that(''Hi$h' is bisoiate# )ith a etaphorial a!# )ith a topo$raphial o!te-t( The oat is

tur!e# first etaphorially& the! literally( I! both stories the literal o!te-t e%okes %isualia$es )hih sharpe! the lash(

A o!%it )as playi!$ ar#s )ith his $aolers( O! #iso%eri!$ that he heate# they kike#hi out of $aol(


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This %e!erable hest!ut )as first /uote# by Shope!ha!er a!# has si!e bee! roaste# o%era!# a$ai! i! the literature of the oi( It a! be a!alyse# i! a si!$le se!te!e0 t)oo!%e!tio!al rules 1'offe!#ers are pu!ishe# by bei!$ loke# up' a!# 'heats are pu!ishe# bybei!$ kike# out'2& eah of the self"o!siste!t& olli#e i! a $i%e! situatio! "" as the ethis

of the /ui# pro /uo a!# of atrio!y olli#e i! the Chafort story( *ut let us !ote that theo!fliti!$ rules )ere erely impliedi! the te-t, by aki!$ the e-pliit I ha%e #estroye#the story's oi effet(

Shortly after the e!# of the )ar a eorable statee!t appeare# i! a fashio! artile i! thea$a+i!e )ogue0

*else! a!# *uhe!)al# ha%e put a stop to the too"thi! )oa! a$e& to the ult ofu!#er!ourishe!t( 768It akes o!e shu##er& yet it is fu!!y i! a $hastly )ay& foresha#o)i!$ the 'sik .okes' of a

later #ea#e( The i#ea of star%atio! is bisoiate# )ith o!e tra$i& a!# a!other& utterly tri%ialo!te-t( The follo)i!$ /uotatio! fro *ime a$a+i!e 78 strikes a relate# hor#0Aross the first pa$e of the Christas issue of the Catholi U!i%erse *ulleti!& Cle%ela!#'s

offiial Catholi #ioesa! !e)spaper& ra! this ei$ht"olu! ba!!er hea#0 It's a boy i!*ethlehe( Co!$ratulatio!s ;o# "" o!$ratulatio!s >ary "" o!$ratulatio!s ?oseph(Here the fraes of refere!e are the sare# a!# the %ul$arly profa!e( A teh!ially !earer

%ersio! "" if )e ha%e to #)ell o! blasphey "" is:e )a!te# a $irl(

The saples #isusse# so far all belo!$ to the lass of .okes a!# a!e#otes )ith a si!$lepoi!t of uli!atio!( The hi$her fors of sustai!e# huour& suh as the satire or oipoe& #o !ot rely o! a si!$le effet but o! a series of i!or e-plosio!s or a o!ti!uousstate of il# ausee!t( Fi$( is ea!t to i!#iate )hat happe!s )he! a huorous!arrati%e osillates bet)ee! t)o fraes of refere!e "" say& the roa!ti fa!tasy )orl# of


11/503

>atries a!# Co#es

I ust !o) try the rea#er's patie!e )ith a fe) pa$es 1se%e!& to be e-at2 of psyholo$ialspeulatio! i! or#er to i!tro#ue a pair of relate# o!epts )hih play a e!tral role i! thisbook a!# are i!#ispe!sable to all that follo)s( I ha%e %ariously referre# to the t)o pla!es i!

Fi$s( 9 a!# as 'fraes of refere!e'& 'assoiati%e o!te-ts'& 'types of lo$i'& 'o#es ofbeha%iour'& a!# 'u!i%erses of #isourse'( He!eforth I shall use the e-pressio! 'atries ofthou$ht' 1a!# 'atries of beha%iour'2 as a u!ifyi!$ forula( I shall use the )or# 'atri-' to#e!ote a!y ability& habit& or skill& a!y patter! of or#ere# beha%iour $o%er!e# by a 'o#e' offi-e# rules( =et e illustrate this by a fe) e-aples o! #iffere!t le%els(

The oo! spi#er )ill suspe!# its )eb o! three& four& a!# up to t)el%e ha!#y poi!ts ofattahe!t& #epe!#i!$ o! the lie of the la!#& but the ra#ial threa#s )ill al)ays i!terset thelaterals at e/ual a!$les& aor#i!$ to a fi-e# o#e of rules built i!to the spi#er's !er%oussyste, a!# the e!tre of the )eb )ill al)ays be at its e!tre of $ra%ity( The atri- "" the)eb"buil#i!$ skill "" is fle-ible0 it a! be a#apte# to e!%iro!e!tal o!#itio!s, but the rulesof the o#e ust be obser%e# a!# set a liit to fle-ibility( The spi#er's hoie of suitablepoi!ts of attahe!t for the )eb are a atter of strate$y& #epe!#i!$ o! the e!%iro!e!t&but the for of the oplete# )eb )ill al)ays be poly$o!al& #eteri!e# by the o#e( Thee-erise of a skill is al)ays u!#er the #ual o!trol 1a2 of a fi-e# o#e of rules 1)hih aybe i!!ate or a/uire# by lear!i!$2 a!# 1b2 of a fle-ible strate$y& $ui#e# by e!%iro!e!talpoi!ters "" the 'lie of the la!#'(

As the !e-t e-aple let e take& for the sake of o!trast& a atri- o! the lofty le%el of%erbal thou$ht( There is a parlour $ae )here eah o!testa!t ust )rite #o)! o! a pieeof paper the !aes of all to)!s he a! thi!k of starti!$ )ith a $i%e! letter "" say& the letter'='( Here the o#e of the atri- is #efi!e# by the rule of the $ae, a!# the ebers of theatri- are the !aes of all to)!s be$i!!i!$ )ith '=' )hih the partiipa!t i! /uestio! hase%er lear!e#& re$ar#less )hether at the oe!t he reebers the or !ot( The task beforehi is to fish these !aes out of his eory( There are %arious strate$ies for #oi!$ this(O!e Perso! )ill ia$i!e a $eo$raphial ap& a!# the! sa! this ia$i!ary ap for to)!s)ith '='& proee#i!$ i! a $i%e! #iretio! "" say )est to east( A!other perso! )ill repeat sub"%oally the syllablesLi$ La$ Lo& as if striki!$ a tu!i!$ fork& hopi!$ that his eory iruits1=i!ol!& =isbo!& et(2 )ill start to '%ibrate' i! respo!se( His strate$y #eteri!es )hiheber of the atri- )ill be alle# o! to perfor& a!# i! )hih or#er( I! the spi#er's asethe 'ebers' of the atri- )ere the %arious sub"skills )hih e!ter i!to the )eb"buil#i!$skill0 the operatio!s of sereti!$ the threa#& attahi!$ its e!#s& .u#$i!$ the a!$les( A$ai!&the or#er a!# a!!er i! )hih these e!ter i!to atio! is #eteri!e# by strate$y& sub.et tothe 'rules of the $ae' lai# #o)! by the )eb"buil#i!$ o#e(

All ohere!t thi!ki!$ is e/ui%ale!t to playi!$ a $ae aor#i!$ to a set of rules( It ay& ofourse& happe! that i! the ourse of the parlour $ae I ha%e arri%e# %ia =a$os i! =isbo!&a!# feel su##e!ly tepte# to #)ell o! the pleasa!t eories of a! e%e!i!$ spe!t at the!i$ht"lub =a Cuaraha i! that to)!( *ut that )oul# be '!ot playi!$ the $ae'& a!# I ustre$retfully proee# to =ee#s(


12/503

I! )or#"assoiatio! tests the o#e o!sists of a si!$le oa!#& for i!sta!e '!aeopposites'( The sub.et is the! $i%e! a stiulus )or# "" say& 'lar$e' "" a!# out pops thea!s)er0 'sall'( If the o#e ha# bee! 'sy!o!ys'& the respo!se )oul# ha%e bee! 'bi$' or 'tall'&et( Assoiatio! tests are artifiial siplifiatio!s of the thi!ki!$ proess, i! atualreaso!i!$ the o#es o!sist of ore or less ople- sets of rules a!# sub"rules( I!

atheatial thi!ki!$& for i!sta!e& there is a $reat array of speial o#es& )hih $o%er!#iffere!t types of operatio!s, soe of these are hierarhially or#ere#& e($( a##itio! ""ultipliatio! "" e-po!e!tial fu!tio!( Bet the rules of these %ery ople- $aes a! bereprese!te# i! 'o#e#' sybols0 -y& or -(y or -Ly or -My& the si$ht of )hih )ill 'tri$$eroff' the appropriate operatio! "" as rea#i!$ a li!e i! a pia!o sore )ill tri$$er off a )holeseries of %ery opliate# fi!$er"o%ee!ts( >e!tal skills suh as arithetial operatio!s&otor skills suh as pia!o"playi!$ or touh"typi!$& te!# to beoe )ith pratie ore orless autoati+e#& pre"set routi!es& )hih are tri$$ere# off by 'o#e# si$!als' i! the !er%oussyste "" as the trai!er's )histle puts a perfori!$ a!ial throu$h its paes(

This is perhaps the plae to e-plai! )hy I ha%e hose! the abi$uous )or# 'o#e' for akey"o!ept i! the prese!t theory( The reaso! is preisely its !ie abi$uity( It si$!ifies o!the o!e ha!# a set of rules )hih ust be obeye# "" like the Hi$h)ay Co#e or Pe!al Co#e,a!# it i!#iates at the sae tie that it operates i! the !er%ous syste throu$h 'o#e#si$!als' "" like the >orse alphabet "" )hih tra!sit or#ers i! a ki!# of opresse# 'seretla!$ua$e'( :e k!o) that !ot o!ly the !er%ous syste but all o!trols i! the or$a!isoperate i! this fashio! 1starti!$ )ith the fertili+e# e$$& )hose '$e!eti o#e' o!tai!s theblue"pri!t of the future i!#i%i#ual( *ut that blue"pri!t i! the ell !uleus #oes !ot sho) theirosopi ia$e of a little a!, it is 'o#e#' i! a ki!# of four"letter alphabet& )here eahletter is represe!te# by a #iffere!t type of heial oleule i! a lo!$ hai!, see *ookT)o& I2(D

=et us retur! to reaso!i!$ skills( >atheatial reaso!i!$ is $o%er!e# by speifi rules ofthe $ae "" ultipliatio!& #iffere!tiatio!& i!te$ratio!& et( 3erbal reaso!i!$& too& is sub.etto a %ariety of speifi o#es0 )e a! #isuss Napoleo!'s #efeat at :aterloo 'i! ters of' 1a2histori si$!ifia!e& 1b2 ilitary strate$y& 12 the o!#itio! of his li%er& 1#2 the o!stellatio!of the pla!ets( :e a! all these 'fraes of refere!e' or 'u!i%erses of #isourse' or'assoiati%e o!te-ts' "" e-pressio!s )hih I shall fre/ue!tly use to a%oi# o!oto!ousrepetitio!s of the )or# 'atri-'( The .okes i! the pre%ious setio! a! all be #esribe# asu!i%erses of #isourse olli#i!$& fraes $etti!$ e!ta!$le#& or o!te-ts $etti!$ o!fuse#( *ut)e ust reeber that eah of these e-pressio!s refers to speifi patter!s of ati%ity)hih& thou$h fle-ible& are $o%er!e# by sets of fi-e# rules(

A hess player looki!$ at a! epty boar# )ith a si!$le bishop o! it #oes !ot see the boar#as a u!ifor osai of blak a!# )hite s/uares& but as a ki!# of a$!eti fiel# )ith li!esof fore i!#iati!$ the bishops' possible o%es0 the boar# has beoe patter!e#& as i! Fi$(6a, Fi$( 6b sho)s the patter! of the rook(


13/503

:he! o!e thi!ks of 'atries' a!# 'o#es' it is soeties helpful to bear these fi$ures i!i!#( The atri- is the patter! before you& represe!ti!$ the e!seble of perissibleo%es( The o#e )hih $o%er!s the atri- a! be put i!to siple atheatiale/uatio!s )hih o!tai! the esse!e of the patter! i! a opresse#& 'o#e#' for, or it a!be e-presse# by the )or# '#ia$o!als'( The o#e is the fi-e#& i!%ariable fator i! a skill orhabit, the atri- its %ariable aspet( The t)o )or#s #o !ot refer to #iffere!t e!tities& theyrefer to #iffere!t aspets of the sae ati%ity( :he! you sit i! fro!t of the hessboar#your o#e is the rule of the $ae #eteri!i!$ )hih o%es are peritte#& your atri-is the total of possible hoies before you( =astly& the hoie of the atual o%e ao!$ the%ariety of perissible o%es is a atter of strate$y& $ui#e# by the lie of the la!# "" the

'e!%iro!e!t' of other hesse! o! the boar#( :e ha%e see! that oi effets arepro#ue# by the su##e! lash of i!opatible atries0 to the e-perie!e# hess player arook o%i!$ bishop)ise is #ei#e#ly 'fu!!y'(

Co!si#er a pia!ist playi!$ a set"piee )hih he has lear!e# by heart( He has i!oparablyore sope for 'strate$y' 1tepo& rhyth& phrasi!$2 tha! the spi#er spi!!i!$ its )eb( Ausiia! tra!sposi!$ a tu!e i!to a #iffere!t key& or ipro%isi!$ %ariatio!s of it& e!.oys e%e!$reater free#o, but he too is still bou!# by the o#es of the #iato!i or hroati sale(>atries %ary i! fle-ibility fro refle-es a!# ore or less autoati+e# routi!es )hihallo) but a fe) strate$i hoies& to skills of alost u!liite# %ariety, but all ohere!tthi!ki!$ a!# beha%iour is sub.et to soe speifiable o#e of rules to )hih its harater of

ohere!e is #ue "" e%e! thou$h the o#e fu!tio!s partly or e!tirely o! uo!sious le%elsof the i!#& as it $e!erally #oes( A bar"pia!ist a! perfor i! his sleep or )hile o!%ersi!$)ith the barai#, he has ha!#e# o%er o!trol to the autoati pilot& as it )ere(

Hi##e! Persua#ers

E%erybo#y a! ri#e a biyle& but !obo#y k!o)s ho) it is #o!e( Not e%e! e!$i!eers a!#biyle a!ufaturers k!o) the forula for the orret etho# of ou!terati!$ the


14/503

te!#e!y to fall by tur!i!$ the ha!#lebars so that 'for a $i%e! a!$le of u!bala!e theur%ature of eah )i!#i!$ is i!%ersely proportio!al to the s/uare of the spee# at )hih theylist is proee#i!$'( 7@8 The ylist obeys a o#e of rules )hih is speifiable& but )hihhe a!!ot speify, he oul# )rite o! his !uber"plate Pasal's otto0Le coeur a sesraisons +ue la raison ne conna,t point.Or& to put it i! a ore abstrat )ay0

The o!trols of a skille# ati%ity $e!erally fu!tio! belo) the le%el of o!sious!ess o!)hih that ati%ity takes plae( The o#e is a hi##e! persua#er(This applies !ot o!ly to our %iseral ati%ities a!# usular skills& but also to the skill of

perei%i!$ the )orl# arou!# us i! a ohere!t a!# ea!i!$ful a!!er( Hol# your left ha!#si- i!hes& the other t)el%e i!hes& a)ay fro your eyes, they )ill look about the saesi+e& althou$h the reti!al ia$e of the left is t)ie the si+e of the ri$ht( Trae the o!toursof your fae )ith a soapy fi!$er o! the bathroo irror 1it is easily #o!e by losi!$ o!eeye2( There is a shok )aiti!$0 the ia$e )hih looke# life"si+e has shru!k to half"si+e&like a hea#hu!ter's trophy( A perso! )alki!$ a)ay #oes !ot see to beoe a #)arf "" ashe shoul#, a blak $lo%e looks .ust as blak i! the su!li$ht as i! sha#o) "" thou$h it shoul#!ot, )he! a oi! is hel# before the eyes i! a tilte# positio! its reti!al pro.etio! )ill be aore or less flatte!e# ellipse, yet )e see it as a irle& beause )e knowit to be a irle,a!# it takes soe effort to see it atually as a s/uashe# o%al shape( Seei!$ is belie%i!$& asthe sayi!$ $oes& but the re%erse is also true0 k!o)i!$ is seei!$( 'E%e! the ost elee!tarypereptio!s'& )rote *artlett& 78 'ha%e the harater of i!fere!tial o!strutio!s(' *ut thei!fere!tial proess& )hih o!trols pereptio!& a$ai! )orks u!o!siously( Seei!$ is a skill&part i!!ate& part a/uire# i! early i!fa!y(D The seleti%e o#es i! this ase operate o! thei!put& !ot o! the output( The stiuli ipi!$i!$ o! the se!ses pro%i#e o!ly the ra) aterialof our o!sious e-perie!e "" the 'blooi!$& bu++i!$ o!fusio!' of :illia ?aes, beforereahi!$ a)are!ess the i!put is filtere#& proesse#& #istorte#& i!terprete#& a!# reor$a!i+e#i! a series of relay statio!s at %arious le%els of the !er%ous syste, but the proessi!$ itselfis !ot e-perie!e# by the perso!& a!# the rules of the $ae aor#i!$ to )hih the o!trols)ork are u!k!o)! to hi(

The e-aples I e!tio!e# refer to the so"alle# '%isual o!sta!ies' )hih e!able us toreo$!i+e that the si+e& bri$ht!ess& shape of ob.ets reai! the sae e%e! thou$h theirreti!al ia$e ha!$es all the tie, a!# to 'ake se!se' out of our se!satio!s( They areshare# by all people )ith !oral %isio!& a!# pro%i#e the basi struture o! )hih oreperso!al 'fraes of pereptio!' a! be built( A! apple looks #iffere!t to Piasso a!# to the$ree!$roer beause their %isual atries are #iffere!t(

=et e retur! o!e ore to %erbal thi!ki!$( :he! a perso! #isusses& say& the proble ofapital pu!ishe!t he ay #o so 'i! ters of' soial utility or reli$ious orality orpsyhopatholo$y( Eah of these u!i%erses of #isourse is $o%er!e# by a ople- set ofrules& soe of )hih operate o! o!sious& others o! u!o!sious le%els( The latter area-ioati beliefs a!# pre.u#ies )hih are take! for $ra!te# a!# iplie# i! the o#e(Further iplie#& hi##e! i! the spae bet)ee! the )or#s& are the rules of $raar a!#sy!ta-( These ha%e ostly bee! lear!e# !ot fro te-tbooks but 'by ear'& as a you!$ $ypsylear!s to fi##le )ithout k!o)i!$ usial !otatio!( Thus )he! o!e is e!$a$e# i! or#i!aryo!%ersatio!& !ot o!ly #o the o#es of $raar a!# sy!ta-& of ourtesy a!# oo!"or"$ar#e! lo$i fu!tio! u!o!siously& but e%e! if o!siously be!t o! #oi!$ so )e )oul#fi!# it e-treely #iffiult to #efi!e these rules )hih #efi!e our thi!ki!$( For #oi!$ that )e


15/503

!ee# the ser%ies of speialists "" the sea!tiists a!# lo$iia!s of la!$ua$e( I! other)or#s& there is less #iffere!e bet)ee! the routi!es of thi!ki!$ a!# biyle"ri#i!$ tha! ourself"estee )oul# ake us belie%e( *oth are $o%er!e# by ipliit o#es of )hih )e areo!ly #ily a)are& a!# )hih )e are u!able to speify(D

Habit a!# Ori$i!ality:ithout these i!#ispe!sable o#es )e )oul# fall off the biyle& a!# thou$ht )oul# lose itsohere!e "" as it #oes )he! the o#es of !oral reaso!i!$ are suspe!#e# )hile )e #rea(O! the other ha!#& thi!ki!$ )hih reai!s o!fi!e# to a si!$le atri- has its ob%iousliitatio!s( It is the e-erise of a ore or less fle-ible skill& )hih a! perfor tasks o!lyof a ki!# alrea#y e!ou!tere# i! past e-perie!e, it is !ot apable of ori$i!al& reati%eahie%ee!t(

:e lear! by assiilati!$ e-perie!es a!# $roupi!$ the i!to or#ere# sheata& i!to stablepatter!s of u!ity i! %ariety( They e!able us to ope )ith e%e!ts a!# situatio!s by applyi!$the rules of the $ae appropriate to the( The atries )hih patter! our pereptio!s&thou$hts& a!# ati%ities are o!#e!satio!s of lear!i!$ i!to habit( The proess starts i!i!fa!y a!# o!ti!ues to se!ility, the hierarhy of fle-ible atries )ith fi-e# o#es "" frothose )hih $o%er! the breathi!$ of his ells& to those )hih #eteri!e the patter! of hissi$!ature& o!stitute that reature of a!y"layere# habits )ho )e all ?oh! *ro)!( :he!the


16/503


17/503

The 'eha!ial e!ruste# o! the li%i!$' syboli+es the o!trast bet)ee! a!'s spiritualaspiratio!s a!# his all"too"soli# flesh sub.et to the la)s of physis a!# heistry( Thepratial .oker a!# the lo)! speiali+e i! triks )hih e-ploit the eha!ial fores of$ra%ity a!# i!ertia to #eflate his hua!ity( *ut Iarus& too& like the #i!!er $uest )hose hairollapse#& is the %iti of a pratial .oke "" the $o#s& i!stea# of breaki!$ the le$s of his

hair& ha%e elte# a)ay his )i!$s( The seo!# appeals to loftier eotio!s tha! the first& butthe lo$ial struture of the t)o situatio!s a!# their essa$e is the sae0 )hate%er youfa!y yourself to be you are sub.et to the i!%erse s/uare la) like a!y other lup of lay( I!o!e ase it is a oi& i! the other a tra$i essa$e( The #iffere!e is #ue to the #iffere!tharater of the eotio!s i!%ol%e# 1alie i! the first ase& opassio!ate a#iratio! i!the seo!#2, but also to the fat that i! the first ase the t)o fraes of refere!e olli#e&e-plo#i!$ the te!sio!& )hile i! the seo!# they reai! .u-tapose# i! a tra$i o!fro!tatio!&a!# the te!sio! ebbs a)ay i! a slo) atharsis( The thir# alter!ati%e is the reo!iliatio! a!#sy!thesis of the t)o atries, its effet is !either lau$hter& !or tears& but the arousal ofuriosity0 .ust howis the eha!ial e!ruste# o! the li%i!$ Ho) uh aeleratio! a!the or$a!is sta!#& a!# ho) #oes +ero $ra%ity effet it

Aor#i!$ to *er$so!& the ai! soures of the oi are the eha!ial attributes ofi!ertia& ri$i#ity& a!# repetiti%e!ess ipi!$i!$ o! life, ao!$ his fa%ourite e-aples are thea!"autoato!& the puppet o! stri!$s& ?ak"i!"the"*o-& et( Ho)e%er& if ri$i#ity o!traste#)ith or$a!i supple!ess )ere lau$hable i! itself& E$yptia! statues a!# *y+a!ti!e osais)oul# be the best .okes e%er i!%e!te#( If autoati repetati%e!ess i! hua! beha%iour )erea !eessary a!# suffiie!t o!#itio! of the oi& there )oul# be !o ore ausi!$spetale thau a! epilepti fit, a!# if )e )a!te# a $oo# lau$h )e )oul# erely ha%e to feela perso!'s pulse or liste! to his heart"beat& )ith its o!oto!ous tik"tak( If ')e lau$h eahtie a perso! $i%es us the ipressio! of bei!$ a thi!$' 78 there )oul# be !othi!$ orefu!!y tha! a orpse(

I! fat& e%ery o!e of *er$so!'s e-aples of the oi a! be tra!spose#& alo!$ a hori+o!talli!e as it )ere& aross the triptyh& i!to the pa!els of sie!e a!# art( His 'hoe"autoate'&a! a!# artefat at the sae tie& has its lyri ou!terpart i! ;alatea "" the i%ory statue)hih Py$alio! a#e& Aphro#ite brou$ht to life& a!# Sha) retur!e# to the oi #oai!(It has its tra$i ou!terpart i! the le$e!#s of Faust's Hou!ulus& the ;ole of Pra$ue& theo!sters of Fra!ke!stei!, its ori$i!s reah bak to ?eho%ah a!ufaturi!$ A#a out of'a#ah'& the Hebre) )or# for earth( The re%erse tra!sforatio! "" life i!to eha!is ""has e/ually rih %arieties0 the pe#a!t )ho e!sla%ee!t to habit has re#ue# to a!autoato! is oi beause )e #espise hi, the opulsio!"!euroti is !ot& beause )eare pu++le# a!# try to u!#ersta!# hi, the atato!i patie!t& fro+e! i!to a statue& is tra$ibeause )e pity hi( A!# so a$ai! bak to ytholo$y0 =ot's )ife tur!e# i!to a pillar of salt&Narissus i!to a flo)er& the poor !yph Eho )asti!$ a)ay u!til !othi!$ is left but her%oie& a!# her bo!es ha!$e# i!to roks(

I! the i##le pa!el of the triptyh the 'hoe"autoate' is the foal& or rather bi"foal&o!ept of all sie!es of life( Fro their i!eptio! they treate#& as the pratial .oker #oes&a! as both i!# a!# ahi!e( The Pytha$orea!s re$ar#e# the bo#y as a usiali!strue!t )hose soul"stri!$s ust ha%e the ri$ht te!sio!& a!# )e still u!)itti!$ly refer toour ortal frae as a ki!# of stri!$e# $uitar )he! )e speak of 'usle tone'& or #esribe


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?oh! as '$oo# tepere#'( The sae bifoal %ie) is reflete# i! the four Hipporati'huours' "" )hih )ere both li/ui#s of the bo#y a!# oo#s of the spirit, a!# 'spiritus' itselfis& like 'p!eua'& abi$uous& ea!i!$ also breath( The o!ept of 'atharsis' applie#& a!#still #oes& to the pur$atio! of either the i!# or the bo)els( Bet if I )ere to speak ear!estlyof halitosis of the soul& or of la-ati%es to the i!#& or all a! outburst of teper a

huourrha$e& it )oul# sou!# lu#irous& beause I )oul# ake the ipliit abi$uitiese-pliit for the purpose of aliiously o!trasti!$ the, I )oul# tear asu!#er t)o fraes ofrefere!e that our ;reek forbears ha# a!a$e# to i!te$rate& ho)e%er te!tati%ely& i!to au!ifie#& psyhosoati %ie) )hih our la!$ua$e still reflets(

I! o#er! sie!e it has beoe aepte# usa$e to speak of the 'eha!iss' of #i$estio!&pereptio!& lear!i!$& a!# o$!itio!& et(& a!# to lay i!reasi!$ or e-lusi%e stress o! theautoato! aspet of the 'hoe"autoate'( The eha!isti tre!# i! physiolo$y reahe# itssyboli uli!atio! at the be$i!!i!$ of the e!tury i! the slo$a! '>a! a ahi!e' "" thepro$raati title of a o!e faous book by ?a/ues =oeb, it )as take! o%er bybeha%iouristi psyholo$y& )hih has bee! proi!e!t i! the A!$lo"Sa-o! ou!tries for halfa e!tury( E%e! a $e!ial !aturalist like Ko!ra# =ore!+& )hose-ing olomon/s !inghas#eli$hte# illio!s& felt ipelle# to prolai that to re$ar# Ne)to! a!#


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The rea#er %erse# i! e-perie!tal psyholo$y )ill ha%e bee! rei!#e# by !o) of suh ol#frie!#s fro the :r+bur$ Shool as3ufgabe&6instellung&7ewu8tseinslage, a!# of theirA!$lo"Sa-o! relati%es0 determining tendency& expectancy& task&schemaa!#set( He )illprobably also reeber that ?( ?( ;ibso! i! a faous artile 1/uote# by Huphrey& 454& p(

42 =iste# soe forty #iffere!t ea!i!$s i! )hih the )or#set)as use#( I hope to sho)that matricesa!# codesare o!epts at the sae tie ore preise& a!# of ore $e!eral%ali#ity& tha!3ufgabenorsets(

II

=AU;HTER AN< E>OTION

The su##e! bisoiatio! of a! i#ea or e%e!t )ith t)o habitually i!opatible atries )illpro#ue a oi effet& pro%i#e# that the !arrati%e& the sea!ti pipeli!e& arries the ri$htki!# of eotio!al te!sio!( :he! the pipe is pu!ture#& a!# our e-petatio!s are foole#& the!o) re#u!#a!t te!sio! $ushes out i! lau$hter& or is spille# i! the $e!tler for of the sou"rire(

A$$ressio! a!# I#e!tifiatio!

=au$hter& as the lih has it& is 'liberati!$'& i(e( te!sio!"relie%i!$( Relief fro stress isal)ays pleasurable& re$ar#less )hether it )as ause# by hu!$er& se-& a!$er& or a!-iety(U!#er or#i!ary irusta!es& suh relief is obtai!e# by soe purposeful ati%ity )hih isappropriate to the !ature of the te!sio!( :he! )e lau$h& ho)e%er& the pleasurable relief#oes !ot #eri%e fro a o!suatory at )hih satisfies soe speifi !ee#( O! theo!trary0 lau$hter pre%e!ts the satisfatio! of biolo$ial #ri%es& it akes a a! e/uallyi!apable of killi!$ or opulati!$, it #eflates a!$er& apprehe!sio!& a!# pri#e( The te!sio! is!ot o!suate# "" it is frittere# a)ay i! a! appare!tly purposeless refle-& i! faial$riaes& aopa!ie# by o%er"e-ertio! of the breathi!$ eha!is a!# ailess $estures(To put it the other )ay rou!#0 the sole fu!tio! of this lu-ury refle- sees to be the#isposal of e-itatio!s )hih ha%e beoe re#u!#a!t& )hih a!!ot be o!suate# i!a!y purposeful a!!er(

*ut whyhas the e-itatio! su##e!ly beoe 're#u!#a!t', a!# )hy is it #ishar$e# i!lau$hter a!# !ot& say& i! )eepi!$ "" )hih is a! e/ually 'purposeless' ati%ity The a!s)erto the seo!# half of the /uestio! sees ob%ious0 the ki!# of e-itatio! e-plo#e# i!lau$hter has a #iffere!t /uality or heial opositio!& as it )ere& fro the eotio!s)hih o%erflo) i! tears( *ut the %ery ob%ious!ess of this a!s)er is #eepti%e& for theattept to #efi!e this #iffere!e i! '/uality a!# opositio!' !eessitates a !e) approah tothe theory of hua! eotio!s(

At first si$ht there seehis to be a be)il#eri!$ %ariety of oo#s i!%ol%e# i! #iffere!t typesof huour( The pratial .oke is fra!kly a$$ressi%e, the la%atory .okes of hil#re! aresatolo$ial, blue .okes are se-ual, the Charles A##as type of artoo! a!# the 'sik' .okeplay o! feeli!$s of horror a!# #is$ust, the satirist o! ri$hteous i!#i$!atio!( >oreo%er& thesae type of sea!ti pipeli!e a! be a#e to arry #iffere!t types of flui# u!#er %aryi!$


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#e$rees of pressure0 for i!sta!e& 'they ha%e!'t $ot a oat to tur!' a!# 'I !e%er aie# as hi$has that' are both bisoiatio!s of etaphorial a!# #iret ea!i!$ "" .okes of the saelo$ial patter! but )ith #iffere!t eotio!al olouri!$( The ore sophistiate# fors ofhuour e%oke i-e#& a!# soeties o!tra#itory& feeli!$s, but )hate%er the i-ture& itust o!tai! o!e i!$re#ie!t )hose prese!e is i!#ispe!sable0 a! ipulse& ho)e%er fai!t& of

a$$ressio! or apprehe!sio!( It ay be a!ifeste# i! the $uise of alie& #erisio!& the%eile# ruelty of o!#ese!sio!& or erely as a! abse!e of sypathy )ith the %iti of the.oke "" a 'oe!tary a!aesthesia of the heart'& as *er$so! put it( I propose to all thisoo! i!$re#ie!t the 'a$$ressi%e"#efe!si%e' or 'self"asserti!$' te!#e!y "" the reaso!s forhoosi!$ this lusy ter )ill be see! later o!( I! the subtler types of huour thiste!#e!y is so fai!t a!# #isreet that o!ly areful a!alysis )ill #etet it& like the prese!e ofsalt i! a )ell"prepare# #ish "" )hih& ho)e%er& )oul# be tasteless )ithout it(

It is the a$$ressi%e elee!t& the #etahe# alie of the paro#ist& )hih tur!s pathos i!tobathos& tra$e#y i!to oe#y( It ay be obi!e# )ith affetio!& as i! frie!#ly teasi!$, i!i%ili+e# huour a$$ressio! is subliate# a!# ofte! u!o!sious( *ut i! .okes )hihappeal to hil#re! a!# priiti%es& ruelty a!# boastful self"assertio! are uh i! e%i#e!e&a!# the sae is true of the historially earlier fors a!# theories of the oi( 'As lau$htereer$es )ith a! fro the ists of a!ti/uity it sees to hol# a #a$$er i! its ha!#( There ise!ou$h brutal triuph& e!ou$h o!tept& e!ou$h striki!$ #o)! fro superiority i! thereor#s of a!ti/uity a!# its estiates of lau$hter to presue that ori$i!al lau$hter ay ha%ebee! )holly a!iosity(' 748 I! the Ol# Testae!t there are 1aor#i!$ to >ithell 7982t)e!ty"!i!e refere!es to lau$hter& out of )hih thirtee! are li!ke# )ith sor!& #erisio!&oki!$& or o!tept& a!# o!ly t)o are 'bor! out of a .oyful a!# erry heart'( A sur%eyao!$ Aeria shoolhil#re! bet)ee! the a$es of ei$ht a!# fiftee! le# to the o!lusio!1)hih oul# har#ly ha%e surprise# a!ybo#y2 that 'ortifiatio! or #isofort or hoa-i!$of others %ery rea#ily ause# lau$hter& )hile a )itty or fu!!y reark ofte! passe#u!!otie#'( 78

Ao!$ the theories of lau$hter that ha%e bee! propose# si!e the #ays of Aristotle& the'theory of #e$ra#atio!' appears as the ost persiste!t( For Aristotle hiself lau$hter )aslosely relate# to u$li!ess a!# #ebasee!t, for Ciero 'the pro%i!e of the ri#iulous ( ( (lies i! a ertai! base!ess a!# #efority', for a- *eerboh fou!# 't)o elee!ts i! the


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publi's huour0 #eli$ht i! sufferi!$& o!tept for the u!failiar'( >


23/503

The sub.et )ill be #isusse# i! ore #etail later 1Chapters I"32, rea#ers irritate# bythese repeate# a!tiipatory e-ursio!s ay fi!# soe e-use for the i! the o!si#eratio!that the pai!ful %i%isetio! of the oi& i! )hih they are aske# to partiipate& is !ot a!e!# i! itself& but a ea!s to u!o%er the patter! )hih u!ites the appare!tly so

hetero$e!eous reati%e ati%ities i! huour& art& a!# #iso%ery(The I!ertia of Eotio!

The first to ake the su$$estio! that lau$hter is a #ishar$e eha!is for '!er%ouse!er$y' sees to ha%e bee! Herbert Spe!er( His essay o! thePhysiology of Laughter14@2 starts )ith the propositio!0 'Ner%ous e!er$y al)ays tendsto be$et usular otio!,a!# )he! it rises to a ertai! i!te!sity al)ays #oes be$et it( ( ( ( Eotio!s a!# se!satio!ste!# to $e!erate bo#ily o%ee!ts& a!# ( ( ( the o%ee!ts are %iole!t i! proportio! as theeotio!s or se!satio!s are i!te!se(' He!e& he o!lu#es& ')he! o!sious!ess is u!a)arestra!sferre# fro $reat thi!$s to sall' the 'liberate# !er%e fore' )ill e-pe!# itself alo!$ theha!!els of least resista!e& )hih are the usular o%ee!ts of lau$hter(

The #etails of Spe!er's theory 1parts of )hih Freu# i!orporate# i!to his o)!2 78 ha%ebeoe obsolete, but its basi thesis that 'eotio! te!#s to be$et bo#ily otio!' has !oto!ly bee! o!fire#& but has beoe so uh of a oo!plae i! o!teporary!europhysiolo$y that the !ee# to /ualify it is ofte! for$otte!( For there e-ist& of ourse&eotio!al states "" looki!$ at the sea& or e!$a$i!$ i! reli$ious o!teplatio! "" )hih& o!the o!trary& te!# to proote rela-atio! a!# bo#ily passi%ity( The title of :alter *(Ca!!o!'s pio!eer )ork& )hih ha# a #eisi%e i!flue!e o! the o#er! approah to theproble of eotio!s ""7odily hanges in Pain$ Hunger$ 1ear$ and !age"" ou$ht to ha%eate# as a )ar!i!$ that the eotio!s )hih obili+e the bo#y i!to atio! all belo!$ to a!iporta!t& but !e%ertheless liite#& ate$ory "" that )hih e!ters the ser%ie of the self"asserti%e te!#e!ies( Ca!!o! hiself )ar!e# "" )ith little suess "" a$ai!st the lupi!$to$ether of all eotio!s i!to a ki!# of re# ra$ #re!he# )ith a#re!ali!(D Ho)e%er& for theoe!t )e are o!er!e# o!ly )ith preisely this liite# ate$ory "" the a$$ressi%e"#efe!si%e type of eotio! )hih e!ters i!to the oi(

:he! the >ar/uis i! the Chafort story rushes to the )i!#o)& our i!tellet tur!s asoersault a!# e!ters )ith $usto i!to the !e) $ae, but the pi/ua!t e-petatio!s )hih the!arrati%e arrie#& i!lu#i!$ perhaps a! u!o!sious a#i-ture of sa#is& a!!ot betra!sferre# to the other& the '/ui#"pro"/uo' atri-, they are #ispose# of throu$h ha!!els ofleast resista!e( :he! Othello& o! the poi!t of stra!$li!$


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Thi!ki!$& i! its physiolo$ial aspet& is base# o! eletro"heial ati%ities i! the erebralorte- a!# relate# re$io!s of the brai!& i!%ol%i!$ e!er$y tra!satio!s )hih are i!uteopare# to the assi%e $la!#ular& %iseral& a!# usular ha!$es that our )he!eotio!s are arouse#( These ha!$es are $o%er!e# by phylo$e!etially uh ol#er parts ofthe brai! tha! the roof"strutures )hih e!able a! to thi!k i! %erbal sybols( *eha%iour

at a!y oe!t is the outoe of ople- proesses )hih operate siulta!eously o!se%eral le%els of the !er%ous syste& fro the spi!al or# to our latest a/uisitio!& theprefro!tal lobes( There is probably !o foral thi!ki!$ )ithout soe affeti%e olouri!$,but it is !e%ertheless le$itiate to #isti!$uish bet)ee! for a!# olour "" i! our asebet)ee! the lo$ial patter! of a oi !arrati%e a!# the eoti%e har$e )hih it arries(

The sypathio"a#re!al syste i$ht be opare# to the bo#y of a pia!o )hih $i%esreso!a!e to the ortial stri!$s of thou$ht( :he! all is )ell the hu$e )oo#e! bo- le!#s#epth a!# olour a!# )arth to the %ibratio!s of the stri!$s( *ut if you play a huoroussher+o )ith full pe#al o!& the reso!ati!$ bo#y is u!able to follo) the s)ift o#ulatio!s ofthe hor#s "" thou$ht a!# eotio! ha%e beoe #issoiate#( It is emotion deserted bythought)hih is #ishar$e# i! lau$hter( For eotio!& o)i!$ to its $reater ass oe!tu&is u!able to follo) the su##e! s)ith of i#eas to a #iffere!t type of lo$i or a !e) rule ofthe $ae, less !ible tha! thou$ht& it te!#s to persist i! a strai$ht li!e( Ariel lea#s Caliba!o! by the !ose0 she .ups o! a bra!h& he rashes i!to the tree(

It oul# be ob.ete# that the fai!t eoti%e har$e of a .oke& the sli$ht alie orsalaious!ess )hih it arouses& )oul# !ot be suffiie!t to bri!$ the assi%e sypathio"a#re!al ahi!ery i!to atio!( The a!s)er lies i! the a!ahro!isti harater of ourauto!oous respo!ses to stiuli )hih arry a! eho& ho)e%er fai!t& of situatio!s that hel#a threat or proise i! the reote past of the speies, )hih o!e )ere biolo$ially rele%a!t&thou$h they !o lo!$er are( These reatio!s la$ by a!y ille!!ia behi!# the o!#itio!s i!)hih )e li%e0 )e .up at a su##e! sou!#, )e #e%elop $ooseflesh i! respo!se to asreehi!$ !oise& to ake our lo!$"lost bo#y hair bristle at the attak of soe e-ti!t beast,)e s)eat before a! e-ai!atio! "" to #ispose of the e-essi%e heat our bo#ies i$ht#e%elop i! the ipe!#i!$ stru$$le )ith the e-ai!er( I like to all these i!!ate&a!ahro!isti respo!ses the over%statements of the body( O!e of the rearkable thi!$sabout the is that they a! be tri$$ere# off by ertai! stiuli i! i!ute& /uasi"hoeopathi#oses(

To su up& the $rai! of salt )hih ust be prese!t i! the !arrati%e to ake us lau$h tur!sout to be a #rop of a#re!ali!(

The >eha!is of =au$hter

I! the first hapter I #isusse# the lo$i of huour, i! the pre%ious setio! its eotio!al#y!ais( Fitti!$ the t)o to$ether& )e a! !o) e-pa!# the forula o! pa$e as follo)s0The su##e! bisoiatio! of a e!tal e%e!t )ith t)o habitually i!opatible atries resultsi! a! abrupt tra!sfer of the trai! of thou$ht fro o!e assoiati%e o!te-t to a!other( Theeoti%e har$e )hih the !arrati%e arrie# a!!ot be so tra!sferre# o)i!$ to its $reateri!ertia a!# persiste!e, #isar#e# by reaso!& the te!sio! fi!#s its outlet i! lau$hter(


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*ut that still lea%es the /uestio! ope! )hy the e-ess e!er$y shoul# be )orke# off i! thepartiular for of lau$hter a!# !ot& say& by flappi!$ o!e's ars or )i$$li!$ o!e's toes( Thesoe)hat te!tati%e a!s)er is that the usular o!tratio!s a!# breathi!$ atio!s i!lau$hter see to offer !atural ha!!els of least resista!e for the o%erflo)( To /uote Freu#0Aor#i!$ to the best of y k!o)le#$e& the $riaes a!# o!tortio!s of the or!ers of the

outh that harateri+e lau$hter appear first i! the satisfie# a!# o%er"satiate# !ursli!$ )he!he #ro)sily /uits the breast( ( ( ( They are physial e-pressio!s of the #eteri!atio! to take!o ore !ourishe!t& a! 'e!ou$h' so to speak& or rather a 'ore tha! e!ou$h'( ( ( ( Thisprial se!se of pleasurable saturatio! ay ha%e pro%i#e# the li!k bet)ee! the sile "" thatbasi phe!oe!o! u!#erlyi!$ lau$hter "" a!# its subse/ue!t o!!etio! )ith otherpleasurable proesses of #e"te!sio!( 78I! other )or#s& the usle"o!tratio!s of the sile& as the earliest a!ifestatio!s of relieffro te!sio!& )oul# thereafter beoe ha!!els of least resista!e(

The peuliar breathi!$ i! lau$hter& )ith its repeate#& e-plosi%e e-halatio!s& sees #esi$!e#to 'puff a)ay' surplus te!sio! i! a ki!# of respiratory $y!astis, a!# the %i$orous $esturesa!# slappi!$ of thi$hs ob%iously ser%e the sae fu!tio!( Ofte! these assi%e reatio!ssee to be /uite out of proportio! to the feeble stiuli )hih pro%oke the "" partiularly)he! )e #o !ot like the type of .oke )hih auses suh hilarity i! others0A thousa!# E#i!bur$h shoolhil#re! burst i!to lau$hter )he! y oppo!e!ts i! a bri#$e $ae bi##i!$ fourspa#es )he! I hel# t)o aes a!# the ki!$& .ak a!# fi%e of spa#es A! artile by a priest o!the se- life of H( ;( :ells( 748This ou$ht to be e!ou$h to ake o!e reali+e that lau$hter ay be e!tirely irthless a!#


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#ea#ly tha! at prese!t a!# )he! a!y u!usual si$ht or sou!# ha# to be a!s)ere# by.upi!$& bristli!$& fi$ht& or fli$ht( As seurity a!# ofort i!rease# i! the speies& theaffet"$e!erati!$ eer$e!y eha!iss of the sypathio"a#re!al syste $ra#uallybeae a! a!ahro!is( *ut or$a!s a!# their fu!tio!s #o !ot atrophy at the rate at )hihthey beoe re#u!#a!t, a!# thus the biolo$ial e%olutio! of hoo saple!s 1if it has !ot

stoppe# alto$ether2 la$s #a!$erously behi!# his e!tal e%olutio!( O!e o!se/ue!e of thisis that our brai!s ha%e beoe '#i%i#e# houses of faith a!# reaso!'& of thi!ki!$ at o##s )itheotio!s, a!other& that our eoti%e respo!ses ha%e beoe 'o%er"statee!ts of the bo#y'out of all proportio! )ith the reatio!s biolo$ially re/uire# or soially peritte# "" a!#a!!ot be )orke# off throu$h their ori$i!al ha!!els( Fortu!ately& at soe poi!t alo!$ thee%olutio!ary li!e& the lu-ury refle-es of lau$hter a!# )eepi!$ eer$e# as o%erflo)eha!iss for the #isposal of at least part of our re#u!#a!t eotio!s( They are ob%iouslyt)i! refle-es0 lau$hter ser%i!$ the #isposal of a$$ressi%e eotio!s ast off by the i!tellet&)hile ryi!$ 1to a!tiipate o!e ore2 failitates the o%erflo) of partiipatory eotio!saepte# by the i!tellet(

It follo)s that t)o o!#itio!s ha# to be fulfille# before homo ridens& the lau$hi!$ a!ial&oul# eer$e0 first a relati%e seurity of e-iste!e& )hih alle# for !e) outlets for e-esse!er$ies, seo!# a!# ore iporta!t& a le%el of e%olutio! ha# to be reahe# )herereaso!i!$ ha# $ai!e# a ertai! #e$ree of auto!oy fro the 'bli!#' ur$es of eotio!, )herethou$ht ha# a/uire# that i!#epe!#e!e a!# !ible!ess )hih e!able it to #etah itselffro feeli!$ "" a!# to o!fro!t its $la!#ular huours )ith a se!se of huour( O!ly at thissta$e of 'ortial ea!ipatio!' oul# a! perei%e his o)! eotio!s as re#u!#a!t& a!#ake the sili!$ a#issio! 'I ha%e bee! foole#'(

*e!eath the hua! le%el there is !either the possibility !or the !ee# for lau$hter, it oul#arise o!ly i! a biolo$ially seure speies )ith re#u!#a!t eotio!s a!# i!telletualauto!oy(D The su##e! reali+atio! that o!e's o)! e-itee!t is 'u!reaso!able' heral#s theeer$e!e of self"ritiis& of the ability to see o!e's %ery o)! selffrom outside, a!# thisbisoiatio! of sub.eti%e e-perie!e )ith a! ob.eti%e frae of refere!e is perhaps the)ittiest #iso%ery of hoo sapie!s(

Thus lau$hter ri!$s the bell of a!'s #eparture fro the rails of i!sti!t, it si$!als hisrebellio! a$ai!st the si!$lei!#e#!ess of his biolo$ial ur$es& his refusal to reai! areature of habit& $o%er!e# by a si!$le set of 'rules of the $ae'( A!ials are fa!atis, butO = How the dear little children laugh = "hen the drums roll and the lovely = Lady is sawnin half . . . .748

NOTES

To p( @( Critii+i!$ a paper rea# by a !eurolo$ist to a lear!e# soiety& he rearke#0 'Theauthor spoke of eotio!s i! %ery $e!eral ters( ( ( ( There are features )hih he e!tio!e#)hih I oul# reo$!i+e as harateristi of a.or eotio!s& as a!$er a!# ra$e, but after all&lo%e is a! eotio!( ( ( ( I thi!k that )he! )e #isuss eotio! )e ou$ht to speify the sortsof eotio! )e ha%e i! i!#' 1Ca!!o!& 45952(

To p( @4( The artile i! )hih this list appeare# is harateristi of the beha%iourist


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approah, it e!!uerate# three 'basi pri!iples' of lau$hter0 1a2 'as a! e-pressio! of .oy'&1b2 'lau$hter akes for $roup ohesio! throu$h hoo$e!eity of feeli!$ )ithi! the $roup'&12 'lau$hi!$ a! be use# as a )eapo! i! opetiti%e situatio!s'( The )or# 'huour' )as !ote!tio!e# i! the artile, lau$hi!$ at '.okes& a!tis& et('& )as e!tio!e# o!ly i! passi!$& asob%iously !ot a phe!oe!o! )orthy of the psyholo$ists' atte!tio!(

To p( @( Soe #oestiate# a!ials "" #o$s& hipa!+ees "" see to be apable of ahuorous e-pressio! a!# to e!$a$e i! teasi!$ ati%ities( These ay be re$ar#e# ase%olutio!ary foreru!!ers of lau$hter(

III

3ARIETIES OF HU>OUR

The tools ha%e !o) bee! asseble# )hih shoul# e!able the rea#er to #isset a!yspeie! of huour( The proe#ure to be follo)e# is0 first& #eteri!e the !ature of >4 a!#>9 i! the #ia$ras o! pa$es a!# by #iso%eri!$ the type of lo$i& the rules of the$ae& )hih $o%er! eah atri-( Ofte! these rules are iplie#& as hi##e! a-ios& a!#take! for $ra!te# "" the o#e ust be #e"o#e#( The rest is easy0 fi!# the 'li!k' "" the foalo!ept& )or#& or situatio! )hih is bisoiate# )ith both e!tal pla!es, lastly& #efi!e theharater of the eoti%e har$e a!# ake a $uess re$ar#i!$ the u!o!sious elee!ts thatit ay o!tai!( I! the setio!s )hih follo) I shall apply this teh!i/ue to %arious types ofhuour(

Pu! a!# :ittiis

Our spaee!& >rs( =aport fears& are 'hea#i!$ for the lu!ar bi!(' The a$ei!$ liberti!e&she tells us& 'feels his ol# Krafft Ebbi!$'( The Re%ere!# Spoo!er ha# a $reat affetio!& or sohe sai#& for 'our /ueer ol# #ea!'(

O!e s)allo)& the pro%erb says& #oes !ot ake a suer "" !or /ue!h the thirst( Eli.ah'sra%e!s& aor#i!$ to >ilto!& )ere 'thou$h ra%e!ous tau$ht to abstai! fro )hat theybrou$ht'( Not so Napoleo!& )ho& shortly after his oro!atio!& o!fisate# the estates of thehouse of Orla!s& )hih ause# a o!teporary to reark0 /est le premier vol de l/aigle(E/ually to the poi!t )as >r( Paul ?e!ki!'s #iso%ery re$ar#i!$ the pros a!# o!s of*ritai!'s e!try i!to the Coo! >arket0 'The Co!s )ere pro& )hile =ab has tur!e# o!('

The pu! is the bisoiatio! of a si!$le pho!eti for )ith t)o ea!i!$s "" t)o stri!$s ofthou$ht tie# to$ether by a! aousti k!ot( Its ie!se popularity )ith hil#re!& itspre%ale!e i! ertai! fors of e!tal #isor#er 1'pu!!i!$ a!ia'2& a!# its fre/ue!tourre!e i! the #rea& i!#iate the profou!# u!o!sio!s appeal of assoiatio! base# o!pure sou!#( Its opposite !uber is the rhye( I! bet)ee! these t)o& o! the e!tral pa!el&the bisoiatio! of sou!# a!# se!se assues a playful for i! )or# $aes like =e-io!&a!a$ra& a!# ross)or# pu++le, a!# a serious for i! oparati%e philolo$y a!#paleo$raphy& the #eipheri!$ of a!ie!t i!sriptio!s 1pp( 4@"2(

:hether the t)o ea!i!$s assoiate# )ith the pu! are #eri%e# fro the sae root as i!


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Chekho% foussi!$ the rea#er's atte!tio! o! a fly ra)li!$ o! a lup of su$ar )hileNatasha is o!teplati!$ suii#e(

:he! 'o!sious!ess is u!a)ares tra!sferre# fro $reat thi!$s to sall' "" )hih Spe!erre$ar#e# as the prie ause of lau$hter "" the result )ill be either a oi or a! aestheti

e-perie!e& #epe!#i!$ o! )hether the perso!'s eotio!s are of the type apable ofpartiipati!$ i! the tra!sfer or !ot( The artist& re%ersi!$ the paro#ist's teh!i/ue& )alks o! ati$htrope& as it )ere& alo!$ the li!e )here the e-alte# a!# the tri%ial pla!es eet, he seeswith e+ual eye$ as @od of all$ = 3 hero perish or a sparrow fall( The sie!tist's attitu#e isbasially siilar i! situatio!s )here he su##e!ly #iso%ers the o!!etio! bet)ee! a ba!ale%e!t a!# a $e!eral la) of !ature "" Ne)to!'s apple or the boili!$ kettle of ?aes :att(

:he! F(:(H( >yers beae i!tereste# i! people's attitu#es to reli$io! he /uestio!e# a!el#erly )i#o) o! )hat she thou$ht about the )hereabouts of her #eparte# husba!#'s soul(She replie#0 'Oh )ell& I suppose he is e!.oyi!$ eter!al bliss& but I )ish you )oul#!'t talkabout suh u!pleasa!t sub.ets(' I )oul# all this a! illustratio! of the peaeful oe-iste!eof the tra$i a!# tri%ial pla!es i! our huble i!#s( E/ually o!%i!i!$ is this statee!ta#e by a shoolboy to his atheatis aster0

I!fi!ity is )here thi!$s happe! )hih #o!'t( 798

Cariature a!# Satire

The politial artoo!& at its best& is a tra!slatio! i!to %isual ia$ery of a )itty topialoe!t, at its )orst& a a!ipulatio! of sybols "" ?oh! *ull& U!le Sa& the Russia! bear"" )hih& o!e oi& ha%e #e$e!erate# i!to %isual lihs( The sybols tri$$er offeories a!# e-petatio!s, the !arrati%e o!te!t of the artoo! is take! i! by %isualsa!!i!$& )ith possibly a #elaye#"atio! effet #ue to the tie !ee#e# for 'seei!$ the .oke'(The a!alysis of suh i-e# fors is a le!$thy affair(D

The portrait ariature& o! the other ha!#& relies for its effets o! purely %isual ea!s( Itsetho# realls the #istorti!$ irrors at fu!"fairs& )hih reflet the hua! for elo!$ate#i!to a a!#le"shape& or absur#ly opresse#& or as a %a$ue pha!to )ith )a%y outli!es( Asa result )e see oursel%es a!# yet soethi!$ else, our failiar ahapes bei!$ tra!sfore# asif the bo#y )ere erely a! elasti surfae that a! be strethe# i! all #iretio!s(

The irror #istorts by e-a$$erati!$ eha!ially i! o!e spatial #iretio! at the e-pe!se ofothers, the ariaturist #istorts by e-a$$erati!$ features )hih he o!si#ers harateristi ofhis %iti's appeara!e or perso!ality( His seo!# ai! trik is o%er"siplifiatio!0 hei!ii+es or lea%es out features )hih are !ot rele%a!t for his purpose( A proi!e!t !ose&for i!sta!e& suh as ;e!eral #e ;aulle's& a! be e-ploite# to the e-te!t that the rest of thefae shri!ks to i!si$!ifia!e0 the part has bee! #etahe# fro the )hole a!# has beoe a!ose 'a! sih'( The pro#ut of the le%er ariaturist's #istortio!s is soethi!$physiolo$ially ipossible& yet at the sae tie %isually o!%i!i!$ "" he hassuperipose# his frae of pereptio! o! our o)!( For a ariature is oi o!ly if )ek!o) soethi!$ of the %iti& if )e ha%e a e!tal ia$e& ho)e%er %a$ue& of the perso!& ortype of perso!& at )hih it is aie# "" e%e! if it is a! Eskio& a a%e"a!& or a >artia!robot( The u!k!o)! a!!ot be #istorte# or isreprese!te#( The ariature of the ore


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first situatio! e!ou!tere# i! life )hih akes the i!fa!t li%e o! t)o pla!es at o!e& thefirst #eletable e-perie!e i! bisoiatio! "" a foretaste of pleasures to oe at thepa!toie sho)& of beoi!$ a )illi!$ %iti to the illusio!s of the sta$e& of bei!$ tikle#by the horror"thriller(

I! a#olese!e& eroti elee!ts e!ter i!to the $ae& a!# tikli!$ assues the role of ase-ual ok"attak "" ak!o)le#$e# )ith $i$$les )hih betray their ori$i! i! i!fa!tileapprehe!sio!s( Soe hoose-uals lai to be e-treely tiklish a!# #isplay a te!#e!y tos/uiri!$ a!# )ri$$li!$ as a! e-pressio! of ok"fri$ht( *ut these are seo!#ary#e%elope!ts )hih partly illui!ate& partly o!fuse the ori$i!al patter! "" the tikle#hil#'s lau$hter is a #ishar$e of apprehe!sio!s reo$!i+e# as u!fou!#e# by the i!tellet(

The Clo)!

>ost of the oi teh!i/ues I ha%e #isusse# a! be fou!# i! the repertory of the iruslo)! "" the lassi i!ar!atio! of the oarser type of huour( His fae is a rihlye-a$$erate# ariature of stupi#ity& soeties )ith a! i!fetious $riae of lau$hterpai!te# o! it, i! eah piee of his apparel& for battles a$ai!st fu!tio!, eah of hiso%ee!ts is a paro#y of $rae( He is the %iti a!# perpetrator of preposterous pratial.okes, he is both hua! a!# i!ert atter& for to sur%i%e all the slaps& )haks& a!# raks& hisskull ust be a#e of ebo!y( He is the ia$e i! the #istorti!$ irror& the lusyiperso!ator of arobats& ballet #a!ers& a!# fairies0 Caliba! iitati!$ Ariel( He is aolletio! of #eforities& bo#ily a!# fu!tio!al, he stubles o%er obstales a!# )or#s, heis tii#& $auhe& ee!tri& a!# abse!t"i!#e#( Abo%e all& he is the a! of $i$a!ti effortsa!# #ii!uti%e aoplishe!ts0 the i#)ife )ho ai#s the ou!tai! to #eli%er the ouse(

The lo)!'s #oai! is the oarse& rih& o%ert type of huour0 he lea%es !othi!$ to be$uesse#& he piles it o!( A $oo# #eal of the e!.oye!t he auses is a il# $loati!$& the#ishar$e of sa#isti& se-ual& satalo$ial ipulses by )ay of the purifyi!$ ha!!els oflau$hter( O!e ea!s of pro#ui!$ a!# prolo!$i!$ this effet is repetition( The lo)! a!#the lo)!i!$ ki!# of usi"hall oe#ia! )ill tell& or at out& a lo!$"#ra)! !arrati%e i!)hih the sae type of flash& the sae patter!& the sae situatio!& the sae key")or#s&reur a$ai! a!# a$ai!( Althou$h repetitio! #ii!ishes the effet of surprise& it has auulati%e effet o! the eoti%e har$e( The lo$ial patter! is the sae i! eah repeat& but!e) te!sio! is easily #ra)! i!to the failiar ha!!el( It is as if ore a!# ore li/ui# )erebi$ pupe# i!to the sae pu!ture# pipeli!e(

Ori$i!ality& Ephasis& Eo!oy

I ha%e #isusse# the lo$i of huour a!# its eoti%e #y!ais& a!# ha%e trie# to i!#iateho) to a!alyse a .oke( *ut !othi!$ has bee! sai# so far about the riteria )hih #ei#e)hether it is a $oo#& ba#& or i!#iffere!t .oke( These are& of ourse& partly a atter ofperso!al taste& partly #epe!#e!t o! the teh!i/ue of the huorist, o!ly the seo!# is ouro!er!(

There are& I shall su$$est& three ai! riteria of oi teh!i/ue0 ori$i!ality& ephasis& a!#eo!oy( I! the li$ht of the pre%ious hapters )e shall e-pet the to play also a


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si$!ifia!t part i! the teh!i/ues of sie!tifi theori+i!$ a!# artisti reatio!(A! art #ealer 1this story is authe!ti2 bou$ht a a!%as si$!e# 'Piasso' a!# tra%elle# all the

)ay to Ca!!es to #iso%er )hether it )as $e!ui!e( Piasso )as )orki!$ i! his stu#io( Heast a si!$le look at the a!%as a!# sai#0 'It's a fake'( A fe) o!ths later the #ealer bou$hta!other a!%as si$!e# Piasso( A$ai! he tra%elle# to Ca!!es a!# a$ai! Piasso& after a

si!$le $la!e& $ru!te#0 'It's a fake(' '*ut her aYtre&' e-postulate# the #ealer& 'it so happe!sthat I sa) you )ith y o)! eyes )orki!$ o! this %ery piture se%eral years a$o(' Piassoshru$$e#0 'I ofte! pai!t fakes('O!e easure of ori$i!ality is its surprise effet( Piasso's reply "" as the >ar/uis' i! the

Chafort story "" is truly u!e-pete#, )ith its per%erse lo$i& it uts throu$h the !arrati%elike the bla#e of the $uilloti!e(*ut reati%e ori$i!ality is !ot so ofte! et )ith either i! art or i! huour( O!e substitute

for it is su$$esti%e!ess throu$h emphasis( The heap oe#ia! piles it o!, the opete!traftsa! plays i! a subtle )ay o! our eories a!# habits of thou$ht( :he!e%er i! theontes :rolati+ues*al+a i!tro#ues a! abb or a o!k& our assoiatio!s rae ahea# of the!arrati%e i! the #eletable e-petatio! of soe %e!al si! to be oitte#, yet )he! thepoi!t of the story is reahe# )e still sile& shari!$ the !arrator's ok"i!#i$!atio! a!#prete!#e# surprise( I! other )or#s& a!tiipatio! of the type of .oke or poi!t to oe #o !ote!tirely #estroy the oi effet& pro%i#e# that )e #o !ot k!o) )he! a!# ho) e-atly it)ill strike hoe( It is rather like a $ae0 o%er y eyes a!# I shall prete!# to be surprise#(*esi#es& the lau$hter pro%oke# by spiy .okes is& as alrea#y sai#& o!ly partly $e!ui!e& partlya loak to o%er publily less #eo!strable eotio!s "" re$ar#less )hether the story i!itself is oi or !ot(Su$$esti%e teh!i/ues are esse!tial, they reate suspe!se a!# failitate the liste!er's flo)

of assoiatio!s alo!$ habit"fore# ha!!els( A oi i#ea of a $i%e! lo$ial patter! a! betra!spose# i!to a!y !uber of #iffere!t setti!$s, loal olour a!# #ialet help to establishthe atosphere( The ost effeti%e stories are re$io!al0 Sottish& >arseillais& Cok!ey, theere e!tio! of 'a a! fro Aber#ee!' establishes the atri-& the #esire# frae of i!#(Thus su$$esti%e!ess #epe!#s firstly o! the choice of relevant stimuli"" as the biolo$ist)oul# say( Ne-t& all !o!"esse!tial elee!ts shoul# be oitte#& e%e! at the prie of a ertai!skethi!ess& other)ise atte!tio! )ill be si#etrake#& the te!sio! frittere# a)ay0 this is theteh!i/ue of siplifiatio!( I! the thir# plae the effet is i!rease# by ertai! ephati$estures& i!fletio!s& a stress o! #ialet a!# sla!$0 i! a )or#& by e-a$$eratio!( :e ha%e etthese three relate# fators0 seletio!& e-a$$eratio!& siplifiatio!& i! the teh!i/ue of theariature 1a!# of the portrait a!# blue"pri!t2, take! to$ether they pro%i#e the ea!s ofhi$hli$hti!$ aspets of reality o!si#ere# to be si$!ifia!t( It is !ot surprisi!$ that the saeteh!i/ues e!ter i!to the artist's a!# huorist's efforts to ou!iate )ith his au#ie!e(

Ho)e%er& e-ept i! the oarsest type of huour a!# the trashiest fors of art& su$$estio!throu$h ephasis is !ot e!ou$h, a!# it a! #efeat its o)! purpose( It ust be ope!sate#by the opposite ki!# of %irtue0 the e-erise of economy& or& ore preisely0 the teh!i/ueof implication(

Piasso's 'I ofte! pai!t fakes' is at the sae tie ori$i!al& ephati& a!# ipliit( He #oes!ot say0 'Soeties& like other pai!ters& I #o soethi!$ seo!#"rate& repeiti%e& a!u!i!spire# %ariatio! o! a thee& )hih after a )hile looks to e as if soebo#y ha#iitate# y teh!i/ue( It is true that this soebo#y happe!e# to be yself& but that akes


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I!i#e!tally& :il#e has oi!e# a terser %ariatio! o! the sae thee0 =or# Illi!$)orth0 'Boushoul# stu#y the Peera$e& ;eral#( ( ( ( It is the best thi!$ i! fitio! the E!$lish ha%e e%er#o!e('Nearly all the stories that I ha%e /uote# sho) the teh!i/ue of ipliatio! "" the hi!t& theobli/ue allusio! "" i! %aryi!$ #e$rees0 the $oo# little boy )ho lo%es his aa, the a!)ho !e%er aie# as hi$h as that, the ki!# sa#ist& et( Apart fro i!ter" a!# e-trapolatio!1there is !o !ee# for our purposes to ake a #isti!tio! bet)ee! the2 a thir# type of

operatio! is ofte! !ee#e# to e!able o!e to 'see the .oke'0 transformation& or rei!terpretatio!&of the $i%e! #ata i!to soe a!alo$ous ters( These operatio!s oprise the tra!sforatio!of etaphorial i!to literal statee!ts& of %erbal hi!ts i!to %isual ters& a!# thei!terpretatio! of %isual ri##les of the Ne) Borker artoo! type( A $oo# e-aple 1'$oo#'& Ia afrai#& o!ly fro a theoretial poi!t of %ie)2 is pro%i#e# by a!other story& /uote# froFreu#0


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As a first step let us !ote a tri%ial fat0 the offier's e!tal leap fro the etaphorial tothe literal pla!e i!#iates a phe!oe!o! alrea#y #isusse#0 the #isplaee!t of atte!tio! toa seei!$ly irrele%a!t feature "" i! this ase fro the poeti o!!otatio!s of the la#y's heartto its o!rete spatial loatio!( 1:e reeber that :il#e use# a siilar #isplaee!t effet

for a #iffere!t purpose i! 'Ho) else but throu$h a broke! heart ( ( ('2( The >ar/uis ahie%eshis ai "" to kill by ri#iule "" by tra!sferri!$ his atte!tio! fro the $lari!$ly ob%iouso!si#eratio! that the *ishop is usurpi!$ hisprivileges& to a! irrele%a!t si#e"li!e "" that heis #oi!$ a!other a!'s 5ob , as if the issue )ere a #earatio! #ispute bet)ee! the*oilerakers' a!# the Ship)ri$hts' U!io!s o! )ho shoul# #rill the holes(

Thus i! soe of the ases )e ha%e #isusse#& the solutio! is arri%e# at by a ki!# ofthinking aside& a shift of atte!tio! to soe feature of the situatio!& or a! aspet of theproble& )hih )as pre%iously i$!ore#& or o!ly prese!t o! the fri!$es of a)are!ess( Thehuorist ay stuble o! it by ha!e, or& ore likely& $ui#e# by soe i!tuitio! )hih heis u!able to #efi!e( This $i%es us a first i!tiatio! of u!o!sious proesses i!ter%e!i!$ i!the reati%e at( The huorist's ahie%ee!t& represe!te# o! the !eat #ia$ras i! pre%ioushapters& appears as a! e-erise i! pure i!tellethal $eoetry0 'Co!strut t)o pla!esi!li!e# at a $i%e! a!$le a!# $e!erate t)o ur%es )hih i!terset i! a $i%e! poi!t(' I! atualfat& ho)e%er& the bisoiati%e at& i! huour as i! other bra!hes of reati%ity& #epe!#s i!%aryi!$ #e$rees o! assista!e fro fri!$e"o!sious or u!o!sious proesses( Piasso'sillui!ati!$ $ru!t )as ertai!ly i!spire# by a proess of this ki!#( O! the other ha!#& thee#iore artoo!ist a!# other professio!al raftse! of the oi operate ostly )ith thesae failiar atries& fi-e# at a $i%e! a!$le& as it )ere& $o%er!e# by failiar rules of the$ae, a!# their task is re#ue# to #e%isi!$ !e) li!ks "" pu!s& $a$s& pe$s for paro#y( It is aeha!i+e# ki!# of bisoiati%e teh!i/ue& )hih also has its pratitio!ers i! sie!e a!#art(

Para#o- a!# Sy!thesis

There is a! ob%ious o!trast bet)ee! the eoti%e reatio!s of reator a!# o!suer0 theperso! )ho i!%e!ts the .oke or oi i#ea sel#o lau$hs i! the proess( The reati%e stressu!#er )hih he labours is !ot of the sae ki!# as the eotio!s arouse# i! the au#ie!e( Heis e!$a$e# i! a! i!telletual e-erise& a feat of e!tal arobatis, e%e! if oti%ate# bysheer %e!o it ust be #istille# a!# subliate#( O!e he has hit o! the i#ea a!# )orke#out the lo$ial struture& the basi patter! of the .oke& he uses his triks of the tra#e ""suspe!se& ephasis& ipliatio! "" to )ork up the au#ie!e's eotio!s, a!# to ake thesee-plo#e i! lau$hter )he! he spri!$s his surprise"effet o! the(

No) the huorist ay also e-perie!e surprise at the oe!t )he! the i#ea hits hi ""partiularly if it )as $e!erate# by the u!o!sious( *ut there is a basi #iffere!e bet)ee! ashok ipose# fro outsi#e a!# a /uasi self"a#i!istere# shok( The huorist has sol%e#his proble by .oi!i!$ t)o i!opatible atries to$ether i! a para#o-ial sy!thesis( Hisau#ie!e& o! the other ha!#& has its e-petatio!s shattere# a!# its reaso! affro!te# by theipat of the seo!# atri- o! the first, i!stea# of fusio! there is ollisio!, a!# i! thee!tal #isarray )hih e!sues& eotio!& #eserte# by reaso!& is flushe# out i! lau$hter(


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I! the huorist's i!# !o suh #i%ore ours, he has !othi!$ to lau$h about( At ost heay& at the oe!t of i!spiratio!& hit his #esk0 'I ha%e $ot it(' *ut the reati%e stress )hihis relie%e# i! suh i!or $estures& syboli of %itory& of oppositio! %a!/uishe#& is of asubliate# !ature "" /uite u!like the ore priiti%e eotio!s puffe# a)ay i! the assi%elau$hter of the au#ie!e( The o!trast is further illustrate# i! situatio!s )here a perso! fails

to fi!# the solutio! of a brai!"teaser "" a!#& o! bei!$ tol# it& starts hitti!$& !ot the #esk& buthis o)! be!i$hte# hea#( The re#u!#a!t te!sio! is )orke# off i! a syboli $esture of self"pu!ishe!t "" a$ai! a ore speifi outlet for e!er$ies har!esse# to i!telletual tasks tha!the lau$hter"ha!!els of least resista!e(

The less su$$esti%e a!# the ore ipliit the .oke& the ore )ill the o!suer's reatio!sappro-iate the pro#uer's "" )hose e!tal effort he is opelle# to re"reate( :he! the)ittiis is tra!sfore# i!to epi$ra& a!# teasi!$ i!to halle!$e& the o%erflo) refle- forpriiti%e eotio!s is !o lo!$er !ee#e#& a!# #e"te!sio! assues ore i!#i%i#uali+e# a!#sophistiate# fors, the roar of Hoeri lau$hter is superse#e# by Arhie#es's pieri!$ry or Kepler's holy ra%i!$s(

The reati%e at of the huorist o!siste# i! bri!$i!$ about a oe!tary fusio! bet)ee!t)o habitually i!opatible atries( Sie!tifi #iso%ery& as )e shall prese!tly see& a! be#esribe# i! %ery siilar ters "" as the pera!e!t fusio! of atries of thou$ht pre%iouslybelie%e# to be i!opatible( U!til the se%e!tee!th e!tury the Coper!ia! hypothesis of theearth's otio! )as o!si#ere# as ob%iously i!opatible )ith oo!se!se e-perie!e, it)as aor#i!$ly treate# as a hu$e .oke by the a.ority of ;alileo's o!teporaries( O!e ofthe& a faous )it& )rote0 'The #isputes of Si$!or ;alileo ha%e #issol%e# i!to alheialsoke( So here )e are at last& safely bak o! a soli# earth& a!# )e #o !ot ha%e to fly )ith itas so a!y a!ts ra)li!$ arou!# a balloo!(' 748

The history of sie!e abou!#s )ith e-aples of #iso%eries $reete# )ith ho)ls oflau$hter beause they seee# to be a arria$e of i!opatibles "" u!til the arria$e borefruit a!# the alle$e# i!opatibility of the part!ers tur!e# out to #eri%e fro pre.u#ie( Thehuorist& o! the other ha!#& #eliberately hooses #isor#a!t o#es of beha%iour oru!i%erses of #isourse to e-pose their hi##e! i!o!$ruities i! the resulti!$ lash( Coi#iso%ery is para#o- state# "" sie!tifi #iso%ery is para#o- resol%e#(

*ut here a$ai! )e fi!#& i!stea# of a lear #i%i#i!$ li!e& o!ti!uous tra!sitio!s( Thepara#o-es of Ahilles a!# the Tortoise& or of the Creta! =iar& ha%e& #uri!$ t)o ille!!ia&tikle# philosophers a!# tease# atheatiia!s i!to reati%e efforts, a!# ?u%e!al's si9atura negat$ facit indignatio versum reai!s as true as e%er(

Suary

I ha%e starte# this i!/uiry )ith a! a!alysis of huour beause it is the o!ly #oai! ofreati%e ati%ity )here a ople- patter! of i!telletual stiulatio! eliits a sharply #efi!e#respo!se i! the !ature of a physiolo$ial refle-(

The patter! u!#erlyi!$ all %arieties of huour is bisociative"" perei%i!$ a situatio! ore%e!t i! t)o habitually i!opatible assoiati%e o!te-ts( This auses a! abrupt tra!sfer of


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o! aou!t of its a)k)ar# shape, besi#es& o!ly o!e of the bi$$er apes oul# #ra$ it as far asthe bars( Sulta! is let i!& #oes !ot ie#iately see the ob.eti%e& a!#& looki!$ about hii!#iffere!tly& suks o!e of the bra!hes of the tree( *ut& his atte!tio! ha%i!$ bee! #ra)! tothe ob.eti%e& he approahes the bars& $la!es outsi#e& the !e-t oe!t tur!s rou!#& $oesstrai$ht to the tree& sei+es a thi! sle!#er bra!h& breaks it off )ith a sharp .erk& ru!s bak to

the bars& a!# attai!s the ob.eti%e( Fro the tur!i!$ rou!# upo! the tree up to the $raspi!$of the fruit )ith the broke!"off bra!h& is o!e si!$le /uik hai! of atio!& )ithout the least'hiatus'& a!# )ithout the sli$htest o%ee!t that #oes !ot& ob.eti%ely o!si#ere#& fit i!tothe solutio! #esribe#( 798

Ha# Sulta! k!o)! ;reek he )oul# ertai!ly ha%e shoute# EurekaG

K[hler oe!ts0For a#ult a! )ith his eha!i+e# etho#s of solutio!& proof is soeties !ee#e#& as

here& that a! atio! )as a real ahie%ee!t& !ot soethi!$ self"e%i#e!t, that the breaki!$off a bra!h fro a )hole tree& for i!sta!e& is a! ahie%ee!t o%er a!# abo%e the sipleuse of a stik& is sho)! at o!e by a!ials less $ifte# tha! Sulta!& e%e! )he! theyu!#ersta!# the use of stiks beforeha!#( 78It has bee! sai# that #iso%ery o!sists i! seei!$ a! a!alo$y )hih !obo#y ha# see!

before( Soloo! #iso%ere# the a!alo$y bet)ee! the Shulaite's !ek a!# a to)er of i%ory(Sulta! #iso%ere# that a t)iste# bra!h o! a tree )ith lea%es o! it ha# soethi!$ i!oo! )ith a strai$ht& lifeless baboo"pole lyi!$ o! the $rou!#( :hat they ha# i!oo! )as %ery little0 let us say that both looke# 'har#ish' a!# 'lo!$ish'& but that is all(The bra!h& )hih pre%iously )as part a!# parel of the tree& )as )re!he# out of its%isual o!te-t "" both fi$urati%ely a!# literally speaki!$ "" a!# a#e i!to a part of a!other&fu!tio!al& o!te-t(

The !o) failiar shift of a)are!ess to the pre%iously u!iporta!t 'pole"like' aspet of thebra!h )as %ery prettily #eo!strate# by a!other of K[hler's hipa!+ees& Koko( It tookKoko uh lo!$er to ake the sae #iso%ery as Sulta!, a!# )he! at last he ha# broke!off a bra!h fro the tree to use it as a stik& a!# arhe# )ith it to)ar#s the ba!a!aoutsi#e the a$e& he0ea$erly pike# off o!e leaf after the other& so that o!ly the lo!$& bare ste )as left ( ( ( The

pulli!$ off of the lea%es is both orret a!# i!orret, i!orret beause it #oes !ot ake theste a!y lo!$er& orret beause it akes its le!$th sho) up better a!# the ste thusbeoes optially ore like a stik( ( ( ( There a! be !o #oubt that Koko #i# !ot pull offthe lea%es i! play o!ly, his look a!# his o%ee!ts pro%e #isti!tly that throu$hout theperfora!e his atte!tio! is )holly o!e!trate# o! the ba!a!a, he is erely o!er!e#!o) )ith prepari!$ the iplee!t( Play looks /uite #iffere!t, a!# I ha%e !e%er see! ahipa!+ee play )hile 1like Koko i! this ase2 he )as sho)i!$ hiself #isti!tly i!te!tupo! his ultiate purpose( 768*efore the hipa!+ee atually broke off the bra!h there ust ha%e bee! a oe!t )he!

he perei%e# it as a eber of both matrices at the same time"" still a part of the tree butalrea#y a #etahe# tool( Thus o!e oul# say that Sulta! ha# see! a visual pun0 a si!$le for1the bra!h2 attahe# to t)o #iffere!t fu!tio!s(

The at of #iso%ery has a #isrupti%e a!# a o!struti%e aspet( It ust #isrupt ri$i#patter!s of e!tal or$a!i+atio! to ahie%e the !e) sy!thesis( Sulta!'s habitual )ay of


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looki!$ at the tree as a ohere!t& %isual )hole ha# to be shattere#( O!e he ha# #iso%ere#that bra!hes a! be a#e i!to tools he !e%er a$ai! for$ot it& a!# )e ay assue that atree !e%er a$ai! looke# the sae to hi as before( He ha# lost the i!!oe!e of his %isio!&but fro this loss he #eri%e# a! ie!se $ai!0 the pereptio! of 'bra!hes' a!# thea!ipulatio! of 'tools' )ere !o) obi!e# i!to a si!$le& se!sory"otor skill, a!# )he! t)o

atries ha%e beoe i!te$rate# they a!!ot a$ai! be tor! asu!#er( This is )hy the#iso%eries of yester#ay are the oo!plaes of to#ay& a!# )hy )e al)ays ar%el ho)stupi# )e )ere !ot to see )hat post fatu appears to be so ob%ious(

Arhie#es

=et e illustrate the last poi!t by a hua! #iso%ery )hih has uh i! oo! )ithSulta!'s0 the Pri!iple of Arhie#es( I ust tell the story i! a soe)hat siplifie# for(Hiero& tyra!t of Syrause a!# protetor of Arhie#es& ha# bee! $i%e! a beautiful ro)!&

alle$e#ly of pure $ol#& but he suspete# that it )as a#ulterate# )ith sil%er( He aske#Arhie#es's opi!io!( Arhie#es k!e)& of ourse& the speifi )ei$ht of $ol# "" that is tosay& its )ei$ht per %olue u!it( If he oul# easure the %olue of the ro)! he )oul#k!o) ie#iately )hether it )as pure $ol# or !ot, but ho) o! earth is o!e to #eteri!ethe %olue of a opliate# or!ae!t )ith all its fili$ree )ork Ah& if o!ly he oul# elt it#o)! a!# easure the li/ui# $ol# by the pi!t& or haer it i!to a brik of ho!estreta!$ular shape& or ( ( ( a!# so o!( At this sta$e he ust ha%e felt rather like Nue%a&fli!$i!$ herself o! her bak a!# utteri!$ )hiperi!$ sou!#s beause the ba!a!a )as out ofher $rasp a!# the roa# to it bloke#(*loke# situatio!s i!rease stress( U!#er its pressure the hipa!+ee re%erts to errati a!#

repetiti%e& ra!#o attepts, i! Arhie#es's ase )e a! ia$i!e his thou$hts o%i!$rou!# i! irles )ithi! the frae of his $eoetrial k!o)le#$e, a!# fi!#i!$ all approahesto the tar$et bloke#& retur!i!$ a$ai! a!# a$ai! to the starti!$ poi!t( This frustrati!$situatio!& failiar to e%erybo#y tryi!$ to sol%e a #iffiult proble& ay be sheati+e# asi! the follo)i!$ #ia$ra& )here 'S' represe!ts the starti!$ poi!t& the loops are trai!s ofthou$ht )ithi! the bloke# atri-& a!# 'T' represe!ts the tar$et 1that is0 'a etho# ofeasuri!$ the %olue of the ro)!'2 "" )hih& u!fortu!ately& is loate# outsi#e the pla!e ofthe atri-(O!e #ay& )hile $etti!$ i!to his bath& Arhie#es )athe# abse!t"i!#e#ly the failiar

si$ht of the )ater"le%el risi!$ fro o!e su#$e o! the basi! to the !e-t as a result of theiersio! of his bo#y& a!# it ourre# to hi i! a flash that the %olue of )ater #isplae#)as e/ual to the %olue of the ierse# parts of his o)! bo#y "" )hih therefore oul#siply be easure# by the pi!t( He ha# elte# his bo#y #o)!& as it )ere& )ithout hari!$it& a!# he oul# #o the sae )ith the ro)!(


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&'is the sae as i! the pree#i!$ #ia$ra& $o%er!e# by the habitual rules of the $ae& byea!s of )hih Arhie#es ori$i!ally trie# to sol%e the proble, &( is the atri- ofassoiatio!s relate# to taki!$ a bath, 9 represe!ts the atual trai! of thou$ht )hih effetsthe o!!etio!( The =i!kLay ha%e bee! a verbalo!ept 1for i!sta!e0 'rise of )ater"le%el e+uals elti!$ #o)! of y soli# bo#y'2, it ay e/ually )ell ha%e bee! a visualipressio! i! )hih the )ater"le%el )as su##e!ly see! to orrespo!# to the %olue of theierse# parts of the bo#y a!# he!e to that of the ro)! "" )hose ia$e )as o!sta!tly

lurki!$ o! the fri!$e of his o!sious!ess( The esse!tial poi!t is& that at the ritial oe!tboth atries &' a!# &( )ere siulta!eous

Documents

Koestler, Arthur - The Act of Creation