The messages of joy shared by many Internet users following the death of Jean-Marie Le Pen have sparked a wave of criticism on social networks. Is it ethical to celebrate someone’s death? Florian Cova, researcher in moral philosophy, deciphers the causes that push certain individuals to rejoice in the death of others.
The death of Jean-Marie Le Pen, an emblematic figure of the French far right, sparked contrasting reactions in the press, on social networks and even in the streets. This phenomenon raises profound ethical questions about our reactions to the deaths of controversial figures.
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Florian Cova, researcher in moral philosophy at the University of Geneva, analyzes this dilemma. “Rejoicing in the death of someone we judge to be bad is profoundly human, linked to our sense of justice,” he explains.
However, judging these reactions is tricky. “We cannot know exactly why these people are rejoicing. It is better to avoid condemning them,” advises the researcher.
No control over emotions
Florian Cova emphasizes that emotions are not controllable, unlike their expression. “We can debate whether these emotions are morally good or bad, but we have no direct control over them,” he says.
He warns against hasty condemnation: “Rejoicing in the death of someone who could have harmed others can show that one cares for the good of others.”
The philosopher wonders about the consequences of the public expression of this joy: “Can this widen social divisions or, on the contrary, affirm important values?”
For Florian Cova, this reaction may reflect a desire for justice in the face of the perceived impunity of certain controversial people. “Natural death can be seen as a form of justice,” he concludes.
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