Is It Unethical To Delight In Other's Misfortune And Pain?

I sometimes watch the History Channel. And they have a lot of programs on things like Medieval torture. And tragedies like the Lindbergh kidnapping. People seem to find those kinds of stories entertaining, enjoyable even. But I was wondering. Is it unethical to derive pleasure from hearing about other people's misfortune and pain?

Just to make clear, I don't mean to take part in it, not even indirectly. Some people would say that kind of a mindset would make you more likely to tolerate things like human injustice. For the sake of argument, assume that never happens.

It's interesting. Because I used to kind of fancy myself a utilitarian. A utilitarian would see nothing inherently wrong in enjoyment that leads to no harm. But now I'm more of a liberal and a civil libertarian (if that can be a moral system). I believe everyone should act and live their life as they wish, as long as they respect other's rights.

 

I certainly do not think that we should glorify real events where suffering and torture are involved, but the definition of comedy is 'Laughing at other peoples misfortunes'.
It can sometimes be a fine line.

 

I'm still pretty much a utilitarian, but there's that term "harm". Some (like me) would argue that a steady diet of violence, others' misfortunes, etc., might be socially harmful, if it makes us calloused, accepting of violence, and indifferent to human suffering. The Buddha, not a utilitarian but wise concerning human conduct, preached the importance of "Right Thought", including though free from lust (nekkhamma-sanka, free from ill-will (avyapada-sankappa), and free from cruelty (avihimsa-sankappa). I wouldn't advocate censorship, but the current ratings system for movies is a good idea, and in our personal conduct we might get concerned if we catch ourselves violating right thought too often.

 

Of the four brahmavihāras, the Buddha taught that "sympathetic joy"; happiness at other's good fortune, is on par with loving kindness, compassion, and equanimity.
The Buddha taught us to take delight in muditā, not schadenfreude.

 

Those who can't remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

I find such documentaries informative, but they make me feel more outraged than entertained. I want to know about the dark side of history, don't hide it. We humans have committed atrocities since we learned to walk upright. Ignoring it means inviting it to continue. Let's know all about it so we can resolve to be better.

 

I agree, so long as we don't celebrate atrocities and violence for their own sake. Medieval tortures and the Lindbergh kidnapping were part of history, and shouldn't be ignored or airbrushed. But such events should be remembered as instances of tragedy or folly. Amazingly enough, in light of all the documentaries showing the rise and fall of the Third Reich and der Fuhrer, in all his horrific, pathetic stupidity, those evil losers have a growing following today. Some modern misfits find those torchlight parades, uniforms, and strutting about irresistibly cool! Those who can't remember the past are condemned to repeat it. And those who can are condemned to stand helplessly by while others repeat it!

 

it's not unethical as it doesn't manifest in action. it may not be showing of great character but it's not unethical

 

No, we've stood up to such people before and we continue to do so. But it's like a game of Whack-A-Mole, you knock down one lunatic fringe group and another one pops up! The documentaries giving "those evil losers a growing following today" also generate resistance among the more rational of us to such misguided thinking.

 

But it will manifest...sooner or later.

"Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief; they are all mind-wrought. If with an impure mind a person speaks or acts suffering follows him like the wheel that follows the foot of the ox.
Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief; they are all mind-wrought. If with a pure mind a person speaks or acts happiness follows him like his never-departing shadow."
Dhammapada 1, 2

 

the above quote was meant as a precaution not as a prediction. thus - 'try not to think a certain way as it could lead to such and such action,' not 'if you think a certain way you will be a complete and utter wreck and total fuckup!' see the difference

 

I must say I have mixed feelings about this. I grew up in a Catholic tradition of self-monitoring for impure thoughts. Made adolescence a living hell. I don't do that anymore, although if lust were becoming a major problem in my marriage or my life in general I'd probably see a need to take corrective measures. I think thought monitoring, in general, can be a bad thing--leading to unnecessary stress. Let the thoughts come and go, but don't dwell on them or revel in them. I mentioned being generally opposed to censorship--mainly because in my experience the censors get carried away. Witness the thought police in DeSantis' Florida.

Sparing kids knowledge of the horrors of slavery gives them a false idea of history and makes it difficult for them to understand the issues in present day civil rights controversies. I had a friend who recently attended a lecture on Black history, and learned for the first time, as an adult, about the Tulsa race riots that destroyed the community known as "Black Wall Street". Oklahoma history books didn't teach that. He was angry that this was the first time he'd heard about it! A steady diet of fake news (as in "fair and balanced" Fox) can unhinge the mind and corrupt the culture. The Fairness Doctrine seemed like such a sensible policy, until Reagan did away with it in the interest of "freedom".

 

The gravity pull of our animal heritage is bound to be there in everyone.

To have the character and consciousness that enables one to overcome this pull and attain escape velocity is what makes one a graceful human being, and which enabled humanity to make vast strides in evolution, culture and civilization.

Succumbing to this gravity pull can lead to devolution and regression, imho.