Humour is a universal feature of human life. In this Very Short Introduction Noel Carroll considers the nature and value of humour, from its leading theories and its relation to emotion and cognition, to ethical questions of its morality and its significance in shaping society. An introduction to the nature and value of humour and all of the leading theories Explores the connections between humour and cognition Looks at its moral dimensions - when does humour become immoral? Written by a leading figure in the fields of aesthetic theory, philosophy of film, and humour Part of the bestselling Very Short Introductions series - over six million copies sold worldwide