JESZCZE ZATAŃCZĘ NA WASZYCH GROBACH! O istocie i typach Schadenfreude
“I shall dance on your graves yet!” On the Essence and Types of Schadenfreude

Summary/Abstract: 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 employ these dimensions to construct a certain combination of emotional reactions to the values and, against this background, it is possible to expose the specificity of Schadenfreude as well as some of the relationships occurring between Schadenfreude and other emotions. I 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 also discuss the point of view of the Schadenfreude victim, including deliberately giving a reason for others to feel Schadenfreude.

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