This debate honestly surprised me. I never viewed empathy to be a bad thing but after reading this room for debate I understood. Paul Bloom's argument is that empathy is not as good as people might think. He claims, " Empathy has its place but reason should guide action, as it aspires toward the sort of fairness and impartiality empathy doesn't provide." He explains how empathy can be a curse, because people could take advantage of you on sensitive subjects such as the illegal immigrants issue. While Jamil Zaki explains how empathy can not only benefit our lives but the lives of others. He states, "Those who choose empathy grow a broader, richer emotional life." Empathy helps us connect with others, and helps us feel better knowing that we're not alone on a certain subject. I personally agree with Zaki's perspective. Being taken advantage of is always at risk when we open up our emotions, it's just a part of life. On the other hand if we have a chance to enhance our lives and the lives of others why not take it. What's the harm?
-Emma Reyna
Although I agree with Zaki's perspective. I also think that sometimes being empathetic isn't a good thing. For example, if you're feeling empathetic towards a homeless person and you give them money that they then use to buy drugs or alcohol. Can you say you did a good thing? Also sometimes empathy based guilt can turn into survivor guilt where you blame yourself for someone else misfortune. Overall, having empathy can be both a positive or negative thing.
ReplyDeleteHaving empathy means being human and having the feeling of being connected with others. Sometime, people feel too much empathy and it results to feeling many other emotions that it sometimes clouds what's right and what's wrong because if people feel too much empathy about something even if it's bad, they will stick to it because they think it's the right moral. It also applies to being less empathetic because if you can't feel the same way others feel, some thoughts may stick to the bad side of things so empathy is both in the good and in the bad.
ReplyDelete-Julianne Z.
The simplicity of empathy is quite a difficult one to comprehend. As humans we all carry empathy, some of us lack it, and some of us rely on it heavily. Adding to what Julianne says we should keep empathy out of certain topics, because it clouds our judgement and can allude us to make the wrong decision. Most people will often also take advantage of your emotions by victimizing themselves to the point where you pity them and are willing to aid them in their dire situation. However not having any empathy can also make you do belligerent decisions that may harm others. So at the end of the day empathy is a blessing as well as a burden.
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