Oświeceni o śmieszności (komizmie) i śmiechu. W perspektywie retorycznej, moralnej, estetycznej
The Enlightened on Ridiculousness (the Comical) and Laughter. In Rhetoric, Moral, and Aesthetic Perspective

Summary/Abstract: The purpose of the paper is to present and comment on most vital concepts of ridiculousness (the comical) and laughter formulated in the period of the Polish Enlightenment. To some extent it also concerns opinions on this issue produced at that time abroad but known and quoted in Poland. Consideration is focused on the reflections that refer mainly to literature and deal with the mode the comical is understood, the possibilities and need of dividing it, also to those devoted to the function of laughter and accentuating the necessity of reasonable control over it. Ideas by, e.g. Michał Dudziński, Franciszek Bohomolec, Ignacy Krasicki, Adam Kazimierz Czartoryski, Euzebiusz Słowacki, Józef Franciszek Królikowski are recalled. The article shows the shift of attention in capturing the problem from the rhetoric and moral level to aesthetic one, and the continually more distinct process of including the category of the comical into the reflection over the aesthetic values of literature.

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