this post was submitted on 24 Jun 2026
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Empathy. How is this so hard to grasp?
In-groups and out-groups, that's how it's "so hard".
We all have empathy and sympathy for our in-group. When it comes to basic respect, many of us have large in-groups that include the less fortunate, animals, etc, other's have a small in-group with themselves and their family, or their race, or their class. For the worst people, the in-group is themselves and maybe their children who can carry their legacy.
Because it's taught and not inherent. And like with anything else some people are too dumb to learn.
There is both a nature and nurture aspect to empathy, like most of our behaviors. Even toddlers share some things and gain enjoyment from it without prompting even if they are 'selfish' with most things.
This is the distinction between empathy and sympathy. Sympathy is a far older word and a synonym of compassion and what you describe in your comment. Empathy is a concept from aesthetics and psychology, though, (actually derived from the German Einfühlung circa 1909) and is really an intellectual activity. Real empathy is, indeed, taught.
If you want to learn more about empathy I can highly recommend Theodor Lipp's Leitfaden der Psychologie (a work of philosophy, not psychology as the title would suggest): Internet Archive [German].
Sources:
I already commented on this in this thread, but describing the concept of something and the something existing are two different things.
Sliced bread also wasn’t sold in stores until the 20th century, but people were slicing bread long long before that. People have been experiencing empathy since before we were homo sapians.
Prosocial behaviors have many origins and its multi factorial, the interplay between them are complicated. But it’s not like the feeling of empathy isn’t part of our genetic make up.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5513638/
Fascinating article, it was a pleasure to read! I learned something new, certainly. I am otherwise only familiar with empathy from philosophy.
The other thing you refer to – concept vs. actual reality, if I understand you correctly – is, of course, a very valid and big debate in linguistics; prescriptive definitions vs. descriptive definitions. That is why I linked the OED, since it is a historical dictionary. Or do you mean philosophical concept vs. physical reality?
My comment was about that prescriptive, philosophical definition of the word. But the study you link shows that empathy is, indeed, much bigger than that.
Really I didn't want to criticize the person I replied to, though – just share the origin of empathy (the word). But thank you for providing a far more detailed explanation of what it actually is!
I'm really struggling to wrap my head around it being a learned skill because it feels like second nature to me. Sometimes to my own detriment. But maybe that's because it's pretty common for ADHD folk to have high empathy.
ADHD sufferers can feel emotions more intensely, but aren't specifically more empathetic.
Because no human is born empathetic...
Everyone needs to be in a safe environment and have someone teach them empathetic.
Not understanding that, especially if you were lucky enough to be safe and have someone teach you...
Is a million times worse. And usually just means you're not really empathetic, just a veneer of it.
If someone is actually empathetic, they don't need to ask rheyorical questions about why some people have zero empathy.
That's literally what empathy is, which I honestly think might be the root of your confusion. You don't know what the actual word even means, you're just going off how others use it without understanding it.
Doctor Viktor Frankl and the entire field of logo therapy would disagree with you. Part of our entire motivation for life is finding meaning, empathy is one of the more basic ways we help ourselves find that meaning. Evolutionarily speaking altruism is pretty beneficial for members of a social species such as us.
Most humans are naturally empathetic, and it’s such a core feature that nothing can strip that away from them
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5513638/
That's actual science...
What you're talking about is a new age religion:
https://viktorfranklamerica.com/what-is-logotherapy/
And you say "neuroscientist" because that sounds modern, but guy was in his late 30s during WW2, neuroscience was barely a thing back then.
No one cares about quack cults.
Edit:
Like, literally most cults are built off that. A charismatic person has delusions while going thru something unspeakable, and people inspired by the leaders survival (even if by luck) just believe whatever rationalizations the leader says.
Do you actually believe that shit or did you just do a lazy Google and fall for it at a glance?
Can you give more fucks and in the right direction?
Just because the concept was talked about as Empathy in the 19th century by some German scientists doesn’t mean shit about the actual concepts integration in our species.
Sliced bread also wasn’t sold in stores until the 20th century, but people were slicing bread long long before that.
From your article:
I never said anything about the ability to develop or not develop empathy later in life. I said it’s mostly a natural trait. There are many reason for prosocial behaviors, and it’s mailability varies from nature to nurture.
ThIs Is ReAl ScIeNcE:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4685523/#RSTB20150077C14
The man had a doctorate from the University of Vienna, and was a practicing psychiatrist for several years before WW2. Look up his work at Steinhof Psychiatric Hosptial in the years prior to World War II. He saw thousands of patients in a clinical setting, and continue on the form theories. I don’t care about your opinions of his field or not.
I never referred to him as a neuroscientist, and I didn’t disagree that empathy could be also taught in some way.
So have fun making up imaginary arguments to try and defeat.
Nope, best of luck.
Lmao, exactly.
They didn't know what the fuck they were doing back then.
Enjoy the newfound religion though, weird choice to choose this community to spread it.
Fair enough buddy, good luck to you and your general outlook