Laughing and Crying: A Study of the Limits of Human Behavior

by Helmuth Plessner, James Spencer Churchill (Translation), Marjorie Grene (Translation)

First published in German in 1940 and widely recognized as a classic of philosophical anthropology, Laughing and Crying is a detailed investigation of these two particularly significant types of expressive behavior, both in themselves and in relation to human nature. Elaborating the philosophical account of human life he developed in Levels of Organic Life and the Human: An Introduction to Philosophical Anthropology, Plessner suggests that laughing and crying are expressions of a crisis brought about in certain situations by the relation of a person to their body.
 
With a new foreword by J. M. Bernstein that situates the book within the broader framework of Plessner’s philosophical anthropology and his richly suggestive and powerful account of human bodily life, Laughing and Crying is essential reading for anyone interested in the philosophy of the body, emotions, and human behavior.
 

Genres: Philosophy

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1941

About the author

Helmuth Plessner was a German philosopher and sociologist, and a primary advocate of "philosophical anthropology".

Reviews

[Tijmen Lansdaal · Rating 2 out of 5]

He's got a point: I guess to some extent our comportment in laughing and crying cannot be understood through 'objective' methods, and perhaps these phenomena are indeed incredibly important to human life (at the very least an appealing romantic idea, as undoubtedly everyone would agree on). However, the highly traditional and anthropocentric conclusions seem somewhat abstract and old-fashioned, as his writing style is.

[Vicente Díaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Qué sería mi tesis sin ti Plessner

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The edition is incredibly beautiful and made me nostalgic for my days as a letterpress printer. I got it from ILL and didn't get very far before I had to take it back. All I really got from it was a discussion of the human problem of both being a body and having a body. Frankly I don't understand what phenomenological philosophy is. I wouldn't mind reading more of this book someday, but it's hard to find, and the library thing didn't work very well for me... so if anyone ever wants to get me an extravagant present...

[Chris Nagel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Randy who hipped me to this.