Humour, scientific discovery and conceptual integration

Period 01-10-2003 to 30-09-2006
Type Postdoctoral Fellowship
Fellow Dr. Tim De Mey
Funding agency Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO)

The aim of this project is to investigate to what extent the cognitive processes involved in (1) humour apprehension, (2) scientific discovery, and (3) thought experimentation, are similar. The starting point is the so-called incongruity-resolution theory of humour. After solving some preliminary problems, including defining core notions such as "incongruity" and "expectation" both rigorously and fruitfully, the logical tools will be developed that cognitive linguists need (1) to get a better grasp on the dynamics of humour apprehension, and (2) to enlarge the scope of the incongruity-resolution theory so that it also covers scientific discovery and thought experimentation.