Abstract
This article focuses on Louis François Cazamian's considerations upon the relation between kindness and humour. At the outset, it is shown that in general, Cazamian's concept of humour is inspired by Henri Bergson's concept of what is perceived to be comic, as an automatism in human behaviour, speaking, and thinking, as well as by Bergson's idea of laughter as a harsh, critical reaction to such automatism.
It is also, however, shown that Cazamian's concept of humour further develops Bergson's remarks on humour as a specific kind of comic transposition of language, and special attention is paid to Cazamian's creative elaboration of these remarks. According to Cazamian, humour is a transposition of a natural reaction to reality to something that is an unnatural response which nevertheless pretends to be natural.
The author also summarises Cazamian's account of the special relation which the Brits have to humour. According to Cazamian, the Brits have a peculiar ability to create humour, an ability which is the result of both of the effect of the natural environment and of cultural traditions.
British people are viewed as phlegmatic but also capable of considering the complexity of things and of focus on detail. Moreover, they are also viewed as fundamentally cordial.
In the context of these remarks, the author considers the reasons underlying the idea of fundamental cordiality or kindness of humour. Although there may well be a significant affinity between humour and kindness, a fundamental relation between the two cannot be proven.
Humorous transposition of a natural emotion need not result in a kind reaction. Humourists, after all, only pretend a spontaneity of reaction, which is similar to the spontaneity of kindness.
Kindness is not integral to humourist's realistic and detailed approach to reality, since hatred can be at the root of this approach as well. A relativistic view of reality, which emerges from the concurrence of natural and unnatural reactions in humour, does not necessarily result in a tolerant or even kind approach to reality.
Its prevailing tone can well be one of indifference or even intolerance. And finally, it is emphasised that the most powerful connection between kindness and humour depends on humourist's assessment of the way in which his or her humour can have the most powerful impact.
This impact is achieved when the humourist conceals his or her harsh critical reaction to the automatism.