Empathy

[twilight2cute]

umm, well, it really bothers me tht some people say, "ooh, empaths aren't real, they're just our imagination" or tht we're evil. those people wouldn't kno if empaths exist or not. i am an empath. if i'm going to have a good day, it all depends in what others are feeling. i dislike when people think they get it, but they don't. its not their fault, but still...

[Lazlo7321]

...Have all cultures naturally develop a golden rule predicated from empathy?

[Lazlo7321]

Thank-you for sharing your thoughts.

Nice comment defining youtube as an "Empathy Box"

A method I use for studying/understanding big topics like this is to look at past cultures/civilizations that have no concept of certain words. Like the Native American's that never conceptualized "land ownership" or Aborigines that never developed "freedom/law" paradigms like we have today. I'm not sure how empathy would fit into these cultures but might be worth the research....

[basicallyShane]

I think 'political ponerology' would help a lot in understanding a lot of the issues you bring up. I don't think we are all the same. it appears that there are some who are 'almost human' - who lack empathy: psychopaths. when an ideology comes under their influence it seems to divide humanity.

[hungerfordj]

I think you need to take one step further back. The reason we can feel empathy is imagination. We are able to internally conjure up our experiences into all sorts of shapes and combinations; i.e. we can simulate an experience we have not actually had. Through imagination we can share in another's internal experience (=empathy). Imagination is what makes us human.

[BreeinOC]

few ppl are capable of empathy. if a person has not had the same or similar experience they can not relate. they do not have the life experience to understand or take the time to even attempt to understand. they are busy with their own life and incapable of extending energy to understand another person. some simply do not care.

[SirSpike888]

Recognition of potentital tabula-rasa?

[redcurrant5]

Isn't empathy a device that people use to manipulate each other?...Selfishness or altruism only really apply, (and perhaps I'm stating the obvious here), with a sense of "self" and subjectivity... Beyond this cynical perspective, there is of course the sheer comfort from receiving empathy...isn't sympathy a euphemism for patronization?

[Urgelt]

Perhaps it's a misuse of terms, but I tend to think of sympathy as superficial, but also favorably disposed to the object of it, as in "oh, you poor thing."

Empathy seems neutral to me. It's understanding on that deeper level you spoke of, so much so that it's not judgemental; it just is.

I'm curious how the idea of empathy connects with your concept of evil.

[mrmortonblogs]

Oooh, now -that's- a good question! Gotta let that one stew for a bit...

[thenegatives]

...takes great interest in using the wisdom of others (people like yourself, in particular) to further her understanding of the world, or the "collective conciousness" and am having a rough ride as of late.

...Or something allong those lines. Thanks.

[thenegatives]

Wow, so my internet connection failed just as I was about to post a very wordy comment for this video. So to sum up what I had already summed, just a thank you for sharing your view of this world and existentialism, and for enlightening me with your perceptions as I am a young sixteen-year-old who...

[GrimJim8000]

yeah i second what lateralist is saying there, mgpapas number one goal for all life is to survive, so no matter what your being selfish

[mgpapas]

Selfishness is what makes humans human. All human actions are motivated by what's in it for them. Even if you do positive things for your fellow man it's because it makes you feel better about yourself.

[mgpapas]

Empathy is the ability to be able to see and feel things from others point of view so you can manipulate them as the means to reach selfish ends.

[mgpapas]

Even newborn infants are selfish.

[Lateralist]

I would contend that selfishness, or the desire to serve the interests of one's own betterment, is a trait that defines all living organisms, not just we humans. However as social creatures, the ability to empathise and work for the betterment of others is also a survival trait. Almost every aspect of human society reflects the tension between these two conflicting instincts.

[AngryAtheist]

Good stuff, as usual :D

[GrimJim8000]

i think that what makes us human is our ability to make choices that may be against our "instinct" we all have empathy, just not all of us show it

[jbre5]

Dam you, you always make me think.I need a note pad when I watch you, it's great .You make me use the one muscle my therapist do not work with the Brain. Thanks Jim

[PeppermintPatti]

I am making a video response for you right now.

[mrmortonblogs]

Can't wait to see it!

[puddysma]

While i respect your thoughts and obvious intelligence, it troubles me that you make statements of fact, as in your understanding of Eastern philosophy, etc., when you clearly do not understand. What we have today is a society(world?) where people believe what they read and hear rather than studying for themselves, thus many are misinformed or misled. There is a huge responsibility in making yourself public.

[mrmortonblogs]

And there's also people that don't actually pay attention to what I say :). I have studied some eastern philosophies, though not -all- of them, obviously, and it was a while back. The abandonment of the self is a strong theme in many of them.

[puddysma]

Empathy is a function of the spirit which connects us; sympathy, the human which allows us the IDEA of connection despite the disconnect. We are neither totally human nor spiritual. The spirit abides even if we deny it...pretty hard to deny our physicality. You said enlightenment in the Eastern sense is when we abandon who we are(our idea of our own individuality), becoming One with the universe. In that reality we do not BECOME anything, only AWARE of what we already are.

[mrmortonblogs]

That's one type of Eastern philosophy. There are others as well that follow the abandonment of the self.

[puddysma]

The Eastern philosophies to which i refer also talk to the abandonment of the self but it is for the unmasking of a truer self..so please inform me of these disciplines if you will...i am always interested in new disciplines(for me anyway*S*)

Thanks for your interesting and thought provoking blogs...you really rattle my chains and i love that!

Wondering what you think about quantum physics and how it might relate to depression and such maladies...

[burnvictim77]

Hmmm, very interesting. It's something that I've never really put into words. But the idea of PERSPECTIVE is one that is pretty well ingrained in me, and I try to provide reasoning for why people think what they do, and then provide the reasons I think that they are incorrect. A lot of people, I guess, don't understand that, despite how simple it is.

[dexarouskies]

Indeed, and this is why the simple "how my day was" sort of vlogs are also important here, and popular, and valuable too.

[Lateralist]

You know, that's a really good point. I don't really watch those sort of blogs much (only so much Youtubing time to spread around, unfortunately), but I understand in my offline life the value of identifying with one another on the basis of how we confront our various day-to-day mundanities.

[daerus]

crap...thought I lost my first post then it pops up, sorry for the double.

[daerus]

I agree. Another human quality that gets in the way of searching for the "why" is people just trying to fit in. Everyone is so preoccupied with finding someone who thinks or feels the way they do that they never just step back and try to take off their lenses as you put. Whether it's religion, politics, or whatever, the simple fact of searching for segregation seems to be another roadblock. I'm sure it'll never change either...anyway keep up the great vids!

[daerus]

I totally agree with you. People are more concerned with the "what" than the "why." Everyone is so concerned with segregating themselves with like people and finding a superficial connection that they fail to ever bring up the "why." That is a generalization however, but I don't see it ever changing. Like empathy, it is another human quality, good or bad depends on who you ask. Thanks for another great vid!

[filmfanatix]

another great blog. you pretty much said it all and ohso well!