When Bad Things Happen to Other People.
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Author Description
"Whenever a friend succeeds, a little something in me dies," Gore Vidal once observed. It's funny, it's terrible, and it's true. What is it in human nature that makes us derive pleasure from others' - even friends' - suffering? John Portmann explores this all-too-human foible - what the Germans call Schadenfreude - in the first book ever written about this universal emotion.--BOOK JACKET. Disagreement about suffering - what it is, who deserves it, and how much - has compelled philosophers for centuries. Portmann humanizes Schadenfreude by investigating what diverse thinkers like Nietzsche, Baudelaire, Freud, or Toni Morrison said about it. But Portmann does even more. Using Schadenfreude as a springboard, he explores pressing issues in contemporary society. For instance, what does our insatiable appetite for media images depicting power, scandal, and betrayal tell us about our culture? And, is capital punishment a modern-day euphemism for revenge?--BOOK JACKET.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the psychological and ethical origins of schadenfreude, the human tendency to derive pleasure from the misfortune of others. John Portmann, a scholar of philosophy and ethics, examines this complex emotion by synthesizing historical, literary, and psychological perspectives. He argues that understanding our capacity for this dark satisfaction is essential for navigating contemporary social issues, including media consumption and the morality of retributive justice.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Philosophical analysis of schadenfreude through the works of Nietzsche, Baudelaire, and Freud.
- Examination of literary representations of envy and malice in authors like Toni Morrison.
- Critical inquiry into modern media consumption habits regarding scandal and betrayal.
- Ethical evaluation of capital punishment as a manifestation of societal revenge.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Critics and readers often note the accessible yet rigorous approach Portmann takes toward a traditionally taboo subject. The text is frequently cited as a foundational exploration for those interested in the intersection of moral philosophy and human behavioral psychology.
Page Count:
0
Publication Date:
2000-01-01
Publisher:
Routledge
ISBN-10:
0203903579
ISBN-13:
9780203903575
Politics
Philosophy
Psychology
Ethics & Morality
Social Science
Ethics
Christian Living
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