Empathy vs Altruism

elaborating on Japan a little. Ching chang chong

Category:

Education

Tags:

• empathy
• alttruism

[Pericles461]

You are drastically misinterpreting the concept of egoism. Egoism holds that we should help people because we want to, not that we shouldn't even want to help people. Now, not everyone necessarily has the time to donate to helping people in Japan, but if someone does, and they want to, then they should send the money over. Honestly, what you're expressing in here is worse than altruism. At least altruists are condemning people for NOT helping others.

[aaron0883]

@Pericles461 Dude ... try watching it again. I said nothing you are implying. I will give you a do over in the commenting

[rebelq1]

People should be empathic with each other because humans are social beings!

[aaron0883]

@rebelq1 I hope you watch the video since that is what I talk about. I would be interested if you find a problem with my explanation.

[DKshad0w]

I am more worried about their Nuclear Power Plants.

[MrOldnhorny]

wow, really. i agree and understand with what you say but there needs to be a certain amount of respect... even if you dont give a fuck that ten thousand people died and more are suffering, displace and have lost their lives as they know it. you obviously dont have that "natural emergence" of empathy for people across the earth, not a bad thing at all, but dont assume and imply that having it is bad or harmful to oneself because u do not experience it.

[stealthswimmer]

you mention not covering up your natural emotions. Just wanted to add that one's natural emotional reaction might indeed be to care about ppl in Japan after a tsunami or whatever and wanting to help out a bit.

[SBRslacker00]

I love this video, but I feel like there is a lot more nuance to examine dealing specifically with empathy. I notice a lot of different descriptors of empathy: honest empathy, misplaced empathy, blind empathy, etc. Is there a right and wrong empathy? Because I feel like I agree about the coersive nature of altruism and the 'shoulds'. But if there's a right and wrong empathy aren't we just shifting the 'shoulds', so to speak? Great vid, but I'd definitely enjoy a deeper treatment of empathy.

[UnschoolingEagle]

I agree with what you are saying mostly. Forced altruism definitely hurts way more than it helps. It builds resentment and anger. The thing I disagree with is that I do think it is natural to feel bad about the death and suffering of others even outside our group of people, but not to feel bad to the point where it negatively impacts your life because you are right... it doesn't affect us.... just like the 10,000 people who die a day.

[john42t]

Very good video and kudos for being non-pc.

[Zen0Jin]

It never occured to me that empathy has any direct relationship with altruism. Post reflection, it still doesn't really. Empathy is emotional, morality is largely reasonable. Empathy can be for good or sadism, and morality can be specious or just full of shit.

No one really cares that much about japan that videos like these are needed. The 1%of sadness I feel during 1%of my day is probably about average, it's enough to make me donate a few bucks but otherwise has no effect on my life. I think

[rebelq1]

@aaron0883

'A grunt who throws himself on a grenade to save others acted selfishly because he couldn't live with the thought of letting them die!'

Which is false, claiming that people only act to maximise their own self benefits/pleasure. And viewing the world from that kind of point of view isn't just false but very douche bag-like too!

[Individualism101]

Not the most concise argument, but I think I agree with what you're saying.

To clarify:

1. Empathy only really exists in the monkey-sphere, and trying to extend it outside of this zone (via external pressure) constitutes a form of altruism.

2. Empathy is complementary with egoism, as long as condition 1 holds.

[altargirl89]

ching change chong lmao!

[Pericles461]

@aaron0883 Okay, maybe it's a little extreme to say you're condemning people who want to help people in Japan. I still found much of what you were saying to be implying that if someone wants to help them then there's something wrong with them. The way I see it's none of anyone's business either way. Also, I would very much like to hear your justification for your claim that charities are bad.