As I started to research the topic of sympathy I soon realized there was very little information on it and the causes behind it. I started to wonder if there is no information on it because the reason behind it is evident. It is human nature to feel sympathy. I believe we are born with the emotion of sympathy, it is coded into our DNA. Determined to find some source that agreed with my theory, or had any theory at all I kept searching. I finally came across this site eruptingmind.com, that did just that.It also told that if we did have the ability to sympathize the world would fall. This backs up my thought that sympathy is much stronger then empathy. Empathy is just the capability to understand what another person is going through. Whereas, Sympathy evokes feelings of sorrow and pity and literally puts you in their shoes. As erupting mind said, “sympathy is like having an invisible link with someone, which allows you to feel what they are feeling and experience what they are experiencing.
I feel as though I should add a disclaimer to this piece. Although sympathy is a valuable emotion and is the cause behind a lot of the good done in the world, it can be misleading. Even the most wicked people in the world feel sympathy. Hitler for instance, felt sympathy for his fellow Germans. This does not make his actions, however, right by any means. One must be careful of how much sympathy they feel and who its directed to.http://www.eruptingmind.com/what-is-empathy/
3 comments:
I don't really agree with your comment on Hitler. He knew that he was driving innocent people to fight an unfair and brutal war for nothing but his 'sick' utopias. If he would have empathized with the German people, many innocent Germans would not have to succumb to death or be maimed for life.
The fact that you used the word "sick" brings back my point. What he was doing was sick and he himself was not all right in the head. He may of been fully aware that he was hurting people but he didnt feel sympathy for them. His sympathy was misplaced with the "Aryan race." Oh and just as a side note I'm not a fan of Hitler lol just thought i should make that clear. I'm not defending what he did as good because i think it was evil in every way. I just believe he felt sympathy, as we all do.
I like your idea that people are born with a sympathetic gene. In the debate between nature versus nurture, I lean more towards nurture but i do think there is a genetic component. For example, as you commented, Mother Teresa is one where it manifested well and Charles Manson is one where it did not. He was a kook.
Post a Comment