<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> This paper was inspired by two ideas: (1) the concept of emotions as adaptive mechanisms, which was suggested by Aaron Ben-Ze’ev, and (2) Robert Solomon’s criticism of the distinction between “positive” and “negative” emotions which functions in social sciences. In the context of the above mentioned theoretical perspectives I consider the infamous emotion of pleasure-in-others’-misfortune in terms of possible benefits for the experiencing subject. I focus especially on supposed adaptive quality of pleasure-in-others’-aging.</p></abstract>

This paper was inspired by two ideas: (1) the concept of emotions as adaptive mechanisms, which was suggested by Aaron Ben-Ze’ev, and (2) Robert Solomon’s criticism of the distinction between “positive” and “negative” emotions which functions in social sciences. In the context of the above mentioned theoretical perspectives I consider the infamous emotion of pleasure-in-others’-misfortune in terms of possible benefits for the experiencing subject. I focus especially on supposed adaptive quality of pleasure-in-others’-aging.

About the Benefits of Pleasure-in-Others’-Misfortune. Aaron Ben-Ze’ev’s Depiction of Emotions as Adaptive Mechanisms

Studia Humana

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

This paper was inspired by two ideas: (1) the concept of emotions as adaptive mechanisms, which was suggested by Aaron Ben-Ze’ev, and (2) Robert Solomon’s...

About the Benefits of Pleasure-in-Others’-Misfortune. Aaron Ben-Ze’ev’s Depiction of Emotions as Adaptive Mechanisms

Published Online: Nov 16, 2016

Page range: 53 - 69

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sh-2016-0015

Keywords
emotion, pleasure-in-others’-misfortune, pleasure-in-others’-aging, adaptation, aging, Schadenfreude

© 2016

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

About the Benefits of Pleasure-in-Others’-Misfortune. Aaron Ben-Ze’ev’s Depiction of Emotions as Adaptive Mechanisms

Published Online: Nov 16, 2016

Page range: 53 - 69

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sh-2016-0015

Keywordsemotion, pleasure-in-others’-misfortune, pleasure-in-others’-aging, adaptation, aging, Schadenfreude

© 2016

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
emotion, pleasure-in-others’-misfortune, pleasure-in-others’-aging, adaptation, aging, Schadenfreude