• edible_funk@sh.itjust.works
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    2 months ago

    I always kind of liked the take that empathy is self serving. You’re kind and compassionate to others because it makes you feel good to do so. People without empathy are just less of a person for the lack of it.

    • Paragone@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      I don’t understand the perspective you’re coming-from.

      True empathy is where one totally-understands another’s experience/perspective, & one “is one with” their condition/experiencing.

      It isn’t that it makes you feel good to do that, or even to be able to do that: it’s just wired in, an innate-muscle of mind ( the mirror-neuron system, which seems to be broken in psychopaths ).

      Why would being pierced by another’s grieving make one feel good to be doing?

      Honest empathy isn’t self-serving.

      It is overwhelming.

      _ /\ _

      • edible_funk@sh.itjust.works
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        2 months ago

        Empathy is absolutely not inherent. It is a learned skill and not even most people have it. But either way it should be obvious how being able to better relate to those you socialize with would be beneficial to you.