The Comedy of Mind: Philosophers Stoned, or the Pursuit of Wisdom

The Comedy of Mind is a readable philosophical essay on the relationship between philosophy and laughter. Taking themes from the world of comedy such as wonder, folly and madness, paradox, and nonsense, Glasgow examines the limits of human thought and reason as put forth by philosophers through the ages. He pays special attention to Socrates, Plato, Kant, Hegel, Marx and Nietzsche among others. In his concern with the limits of human reason, he also explores various forms of mysticism and considers questions raised by modern logic and science. Glasgow's study brings together comic drama and literature with philosophical texts in a way that is original and provocative but also accessible to a wide audience.