User:Evrik/epicaricacy

Epicaricacy is a human psychological response that entails the rejoicing at, taking joy in, or getting pleasure from the misfortunes of others. The term is derived from the Ancient Greek ἐπί (epi), "upon") + χάρις (kharis), "joy") +κακός (kakos), "evil"). Its German language equivalent, schadenfreude, is commonly used as a loan word in English.

Epicaricacy has similarities to envy, gloating, jealousy, sadism and sardonism.

Greek concept of epicaricacy
Aristotle cited this emotion as part of his classifaction of virtues and emotions. In Nicomachean Ethics, the philosopher uses a three part classification of virtues and emotions. In this case, epicaricacy is the opposite of phthonos and nemesis occupies the mean. Nemesis is "a painful response to another's undeserved good fortune," while phthonos is "a painful response to any good fortune," deserved or not. The person experiencing epikhairekakos actually takes pleasure in another's ill fortune.

Epicaricacy in the Age of Enlightenment
During the 17th century, considered by some to be the earliest part of the Enlightenment era in philosophy, Robert Burton in his work, The Anatomy of Melancholy, used the term to say, "Out of these two arise those mixed affections and passions of anger, which is a desire of revenge; hatred, which is inveterate anger; zeal, which is offended with him who hurts that he loves; and ἐπιχαιρεκακία (epikairekakia), a compound affection of joy and hate, when we rejoice at other men's mischief, and are grieved at their prosperity; pride, self-love, emulation, envy, shame, &c., of which elsewhere."