Re: Case against empathy

Puzzle Piece · ‎06-29-2010

@Quse wrote:
What "millionaires/billionaires and what they "should" do with their money."

What they do with their money is their business, not mine. Personally, I don't care what they do, as long as it doesn't infringe on my liberty.
I think everyone, whether you're a millionaire or billionaire.... or not, should be involved with something that moves them to contribute either monetarily, time wise or both....but I'm not for forcing people in any way shape or form.

Ditto this!

Never Forget the Native American Indian Holocaust

Oostende · ‎03-14-2010

@Quse and @Puzzle Piece I absolutely agee with you both.

I don't consider paying taxes to be in any way a charitable form of giving. It's compulsory. They throw you in jail if you don't pay taxes. Besides, paying taxes is more about citizenship to my mind.

I believe charity is personal. It is a matter of giving your own resources to people and causes that in no way benefit self.

I'm not sure the purpose of charity is to maximize the good. I think it's just to make a difference in the world in whatever way you feel moved to do.

goldensrbest · ‎03-10-2010

The rich get away of not paying taxes.

When you lose some one you L~O~V~E, that Memory of them, becomes a TREASURE.

goldensrbest · ‎03-10-2010

Without empathy,and compassion,one would be a terrible human.

When you lose some one you L~O~V~E, that Memory of them, becomes a TREASURE.

Isobel Archer · ‎04-04-2015

I'm sure that empathy and compassion can be defined differently than he does - and some may define it as exactly the same thing.

I think the point he is making - and why he takes care in his definition so that this will be clearer - is that "feeling someone's pain" can make you less rather than more able to help them deal with their problems effectively. And can have adverse consequences for others as well (as in the moving the child they heard about to the top of the list without knowing anything about the others.)

Enabling can come from empathy.

ValuSkr · ‎03-15-2014

I think there isn't much difference between "empathy" and "compassion." There's room in the world for small acts of charity and grand acts of charity. Both are necessary. Discussing which is preferred is an academic exercise at best, silly at worst.

Noel7 · ‎03-09-2010

@Sooner wrote:
Everyone who works and pays taxes gives too. Don't forget that component of giving. As more and more programs are put in place, more of us give more. Back in the day, a greater percentage of giving was voluntary on a personal basis. Today, it is more of a group effort and administered not so much on a local basis.

I am not saying this to come down one way or another, but just pointing out that all of us contribute more now through payroll deductions than we used to. . . so it is hard to calculate how much we "give" in a way. I have no way of knowing how much of my non-discretionary salary contributions go to what. That sort of frustrates me.

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@Sooner

I wouldn't call it giving since it's mandatory, not from free will or motivated by caring for others.

Noel7 · ‎03-09-2010

Bloom is on the wrong track.

Empathy is the ability to understand the feelings of others. There are facial recognition tests for that. It in no way means giving away the store.

It seems to me Bloom is a typical Ayn Rand sociopath who shouldn't have called it empathy since he has no idea about the meaning of the word.

To understand what someone is feeling does not demand response.

Noel7 · ‎03-09-2010

@Isobel Archer wrote:
I'm sure that empathy and compassion can be defined differently than he does - and some may define it as exactly the same thing.

I think the point he is making - and why he takes care in his definition so that this will be clearer - is that "feeling someone's pain" can make you less rather than more able to help them deal with their problems effectively. And can have adverse consequences for others as well (as in the moving the child they heard about to the top of the list without knowing anything about the others.)

Enabling can come from empathy.

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I'm sure of that, too, since he has no idea what empathy is. Understandable for a sociopath.

cherry · ‎03-09-2010

Being able to feel the pain of others, is what distinguishes people, from the likes of the Nazis, who had no empathy for anyone

They were very good at figuring out things ,to persecute and destroy other humans. They sat back and analyzed, and sought the best methods to achieve their goal

I'll take empathy any day of the week ,over that