A wealthy American pedophile has died. Either he committed suicide, or he was murdered to protect some other (important) people. However, my only question is: who cares?? The world is better off without him. That should be the only thing that ultimately matters. Apparently, it’s more interesting for news media writing about this murder/suicide anyway. Why?
The meaning of the phrase “the end justifies the means“, was never more clear to me than in this case. This phrase is from The Prince, a 1513 book by Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527), “an Italian diplomat, politician, historian, philosopher, humanist, writer, playwright and poet of the Renaissance period”.
The Bible states “thou shalt not kill“, “a moral imperative included as one of the Ten Commandments in the Torah“. The morality of this murder/suicide is indeed interesting.
Does morality prohibit feeling indifference towards someone’s death? I cannot imagine that. Each day, people die and most of them are unfamiliar to us. Are we indifferent to them? I cannot imagine that. The main difference is that we do not know that these other people died.
Does morality require feeling empathy (collective) or sympathy (individual) towards others? I cannot imagine that. Sympathy requires knowing someone and having a personal connection. Empathy requires not knowing people and feeling sorry about their circumstances. Altruism is beyond the scope of this example (my 2016 blog).
Obviously, some people do know this guy, and some of them may even appreciate what he did for them. Does morality then require having sympathy for this guy? I cannot imagine that. If people would feel sympathy for this guy then what would that imply? Collective guilt perhaps? Regret, remorse and shame would prevent feeling sympathy for him.
So, what does explain the interest of news media in the downfall of wealthy men, like the former managing director of the IMF, a former multiple Italian PM and business tycoon, and a former California governor (eg, TIME-2011). Is it envy about their wealth, or is it about gloating? Vocabulary: “If you gloat, you express great satisfaction at the misfortune of others”.
Is the continued news coverage on the murder/suicide about the future – or imminent – downfall of his (alleged) co-conspirators? Or is it because conspiracy news boosts sales volumes? Is the newsworthiness about his political connections to a former and a current US president?
Ultimately, I keep telling myself: who cares? I have no sympathy for this devil.
Sympathy for the Devil (1968) by The Rolling Stones
artists, lyrics, video, Wiki-1, Wiki-2
Please allow me to introduce myself
I’m a man of wealth and taste
I’ve been around for a long, long year
Stole many a man’s soul and faith
Note: all markings (bold, italic, underlining) by LO unless stated otherwise
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