Philosopher Emmanuel Kant primarily developed the incongruity theory. Kant claimed that the comic is an expectation that comes to nothing.
An incongruity in which things juxtaposed simultaneously, is still in vogue. This is often debated against theories of the shifts in perspectives in humour.
Two main approaches have been produced to Kant’s theory:
– Humorous situations occur when the person or persons in question are presented with simultaneous juxtapositions. (This does not cover the entire subject)
– Humour requires a cognitive shift created by a discovery or solution to a puzzle or problem.
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