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February 1, 2024

The Failure of Schadenfreude

Philosopher and conference speaker, Jacques de Villiers writes about schadenfreude and freudenfreude.

Article 19/365 of Jacques’s writing quest.

If you’ve ever felt joy at someone else’s suffering or misfortune, you’ve been in a state of schadenfreude (German: schaden = harm and freude = joy). 

I’ve always thought that I’ve evolved to freudenfreude – the enjoyment of another’s success.

Apparently not. I watch a lot of movies and love it when the goody wins and the baddy gets his or her comeuppance. I get a kick out of when corrupt politicians are exposed and punished. I applaud when the serial killer is sentenced. I jump for joy when the bully is cut down to size. I tremble when the terrorist is terminated. 

The problem in real life, of course, is distinguishing between the goodies and baddies. From some perspectives there is no good and bad, only lessons to help us evolve into our divine birthright. That’s a bitter pill to swallow when you’re the aggrieved party, isn’t it? But, perhaps it is the most sensible way to look at things: that both good/bad isn’t being done to you, but for you. But, I’m wholly unqualified and primitive to deal with that question.

I would imagine that baddies believe that they are goodies: USA, Britain, Israel, Hamas, China, Russia, Ukraine, Nazis, Right, Left, Liberal, Conservative, Christian, Muslim, Catholic, Protestant, Jew, Jihadi, Spiritual, Secular, Criminal and Cop.

I would imagine that goodies believe they are right: USA, Britain, Israel, Hamas, China, Russia, Ukraine, Nazis, Right, Left, Liberal, Conservative, Christian, Muslim, Catholic, Protestant, Jew, Jihadi, Spiritual, Secular, Criminal and Cop.

It is clear that we all perceive that we are good. We are, after all, the ultimate justifying machines. As the saying goes, “One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.”

Before we follow blindly into an inferno of injustice we should all question the basis of our belief system. It is clear that when we think we are right (war) that things end badly for all of us.

I feel that Carlos Castaneda got it right. “Think about it: what weakens us is feeling offended by the deeds and misdeeds of our fellow men. Our self-importance requires that we spend most of our lives offended by someone.” 

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