“I shall dance on your graves yet!” On the Essence and Types of Schadenfreude
Filip KOBIELA
University School of Physical Education in Krakow , PolandAbstract
This paper primarily examines the essence of Schadenfreude, which is a pleasure derived by someone from another person’s misfortune, which they, however, have not caused themselves. While capturing this essence we should distinguish four principal dimensions: emotional, locality related, axiological and causal. I shall employ these dimensions to construct a certain combination of emotional reactions to the values and, against this background, it will be possible to expose the specificity of Schadenfreude as well as some of the relationships occurring between Schadenfreude and other emotions. I will then present a certain typology of Schadenfreude (comic, prudential, related to justice, jealousy, profits, grace and radical) accompanied by brief ethical analyses. In the conclusion, I will also discuss the point of view of the Schadenfreude victim, including deliberately giving a reason for others to feel Schadenfreude.
Keywords:
Schadenfreude, joy, evil, envy, justiceUniversity School of Physical Education in Krakow
