Henri Bergson devoted an entire essay to the topic of "Laughter" in 1900, examining its role and meaning in human life. His work, Laughter. Essay on the Meaning of the Comic, compiled three articles originally published in the Revue de Paris in 1899. In this work, Bergson explored the philosophical aspects of humor, differentiating it from earlier biological or emotional interpretations. Earlier researchers, including Claude Bernard, Charles Darwin, and Herbert Spencer, had viewed laughter primarily as a biological or emotional response. Bergson, however, aimed to uncover the deeper philosophical significance behind it. According to Bergson, laughter can be described as "mechanical applied to living," emphasizing the contrast between the rigidity of mechanical actions and the fluidity of life. He identified three essential conditions for laughter: it is exclusively human, it requires a temporary emotional detachment, and it is inherently social, emerging from group interactions. Bergson believed that laughter plays an integrative role in society, reminding individuals who are too rigid of the need for flexibility and creativity. Bergson also noted that laughter reflects an unfulfilled expectation of our ability to embrace the creative flow of life. This idea was further developed in his later work, Creative Evolution (1907). He suggested that humor arises when individuals act automatically, losing connection with the vital flow of life. In these moments, laughter serves as a gentle reminder to reconnect with creative freedom. Bergson explored the metaphorical dimensions of humor, observing that comedic effects often result from the decline of "mechanical" attitudes. He used examples from both visual and verbal repetition, such as the character of Guignol or the dialogue in Molière's Tartuffe. Bergson argued that comedy uniquely targets general human types rather than specific individuals, emphasizing deviations from the ordinary course of life. In the conclusion of Laughter, Bergson acknowledged that while humor can sometimes provoke a sense of bitterness, it mainly highlights the rigidity within individuals rather than correcting it. He contrasted this with "open morality," which embraces the creative flow of life. In his later works, such as The Two Sources of Morality and Religion (1939), Bergson favored the mystical over the humorous, showing a shift in his philosophical outlook.