I cannot load it up into video any so ever.
So here is the link:
[url]http://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/474588/why-empathy-is-a-bad-thing/[/url]
I understand the critique of "warm glow altruists", but are effective altruists not motivated by empathy also?
It seems a bit of a jump on his part to say empathy results in short-term "feel good" acts exclusively. And it seems that any alternative to empathy is comparatively worse.
Empathy is being able to understand other people who do not think or feel like you.
[QUOTE] are effective altruists not motivated by empathy also?[/QUOTE]
No they are not. I care about other people not because I have compassion, it is because I realize I am part of the whole. What goes around comes around. I give a shit about global warming because I will deal with the effects in my life time. It is out of concern for myself. The more I care about myself only, the more capable I am able to understand other people and see I am part of said whole.
Most people claim to be altruists are doing out of ego, fear, a need to control or selfish (albeit unconsciously) desires.
[QUOTE=Daysofwinter;50114685]Empathy is being able to understand other people who do not think or feel like you.
[/QUOTE]
i know this is a little nitpicky, but you're describing sympathy. empathy is the ability to put yourself in another person's shoes and vicariously feel what they are feeling.
[QUOTE=NixNax123;50114750]i know this is a little nitpicky, but you're describing sympathy. empathy is the ability to put yourself in another person's shoes and vicariously feel what they are feeling.[/QUOTE]
The basis of all debates is trying to figure and clarify what words are best used and their meaning.
[QUOTE=Daysofwinter;50114543]Text[/QUOTE]
So, Basically this video is saying you should be cold heart and logical.
Alright.
Sounds like a load of bullshit to me. He just list a couple of overly narrow and specific examples of "empathy", and then brings up something (Global Warming) that is undoubtable made much worse by a lack of empathy ("Why should I care, I'll be dead by then?" "Who cares, I can afford to live somewhere safe")
Isn't someone who lacks Empathy tends to be more of a serial killer and such than someone who doesn't.
If you eschew logic because you're so overwhelmed with empathy, you're going to gullibly make bad decisions because "it feels right".
On the other hand, if you eschew empathy because "emotions just cloud your logic", then you're going to act selfishly and fuck people over.
You need both empathy and logic in order to be an effective altruistic person.
Empathy isn't defined by action, it's defined by a brain state. The action of donating to a bogus charity isn't empathy.
Both examples given in the video could be derived from empathy. However, saying someone "gets a high off of donating to charity" implies that he isn't doing it for empathetic reasons, he's doing it for narcissistic reasons.
[QUOTE=Daysofwinter;50114685]Empathy is being able to understand other people who do not think or feel like you.
No they are not. I care about other people not because I have compassion, it is because I realize I am part of the whole. What goes around comes around. I give a shit about global warming because I will deal with the effects in my life time. It is out of concern for myself. The more I care about myself only, the more capable I am able to understand other people and see I am part of said whole.
Most people claim to be altruists are doing out of ego, fear, a need to control or selfish (albeit unconsciously) desires.[/QUOTE]
This perspective you are levying: "I help other people out of pure rational self interest, not empathy" is exactly what this dude is critiquing. The warm glow altruist doesn't help the poor because he/she wants to help the poor, but because he/she feels good doing so.
This person isn't saying we need ethical egoism (which I guess is what you are going for?... I.e: I am interested in preserving my self, and because I like myself, I will help other people to help myself) in fact, the author of the link you shared is [U]HYPER[/U] critical of that. I think he is arguing for a much more nuanced empathy - I just don't know exactly what it looks like
[QUOTE=Aztec;50115594]Empathy isn't defined by action, it's defined by a brain state. The action of donating to a bogus charity isn't empathy.
Both examples given in the video could be derived from empathy. However, saying someone "gets a high off of donating to charity" implies that he isn't doing it for empathetic reasons, he's doing it for narcissistic reasons.[/QUOTE]
So the question is how can we tell when it is genuine care or narcissistic? In ourselves and others?
[QUOTE=Daysofwinter;50122819]So the question is how can we tell when it is genuine care or narcissistic? In ourselves and others?[/QUOTE]
The real question is if it benefits other people. If it does, then why question the intentions unless it could lead to something malicious?
[QUOTE=Daysofwinter;50122819]So the question is how can we tell when it is genuine care or narcissistic? In ourselves and others?[/QUOTE]
It's really really fucking simple. Empathy is autonomic, sympathy is not. Contrary to populist belief and this dumb pop-sci "study piece", empathy can not be learned or "given", you either have it or you don't. Sympathy is can be learned or taken, and there is a world of difference between the two.
Empathy cannot be turned off except through drugs. Sympathy is active and generated concern for ______, and has many levels of interaction.
[QUOTE=ClarkWasHere;50122908]The real question is if it benefits other people. If it does, then why question the intentions unless it could lead to something malicious?[/QUOTE]
It not a matter of intentions but motivations.
For example lets take black lives matters.
Any one remember the reports of how many of the BLM activists were upset no one was paying attention to them during the attacks on Paris?
That does not make them look good, thus does not help their cause. Thus hurt minorities overall.
The same could be said for occupy wall street.
The same could be said of the regressive left who are putting on a show of "empathy" but are actually hostile and turning people away or even against the causes of the left.
If receiving a donation causes you to lose money then ho boy is your system fucked up. This video is stupid as hell, ordinary people might not have the time to "plan out what's best for the world". If someone wants to give a donation to the organization I volunteer at, even if it's five bucks they've still done more good than the person who made this video has.
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