Time for philisophical epiphanies, eh?
Well, my journal is now more or less set up, and it is time for pondering, writing, philosophy, and more pondering. In other words, wasting time and getting depressed. Well, what else is free time for anyway? Actually, I do have a philosophical gem for all you folks out there. After reading a friends list about the buffy board discussion of Ayn
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I have a question or two to offer for your consideration. If what you say above is true, meaning it stems from basic emotions (i.e.the need for self-preservation or self-interest/personal gain) because early on we found that being nice to someone else meant they were nice back...Then of course we became much more advanced technologically, and therefore had more time to think and become more educated/philosophical, and empathy became a concept why does it have importance to us today? ie what is it's current value or alternatively do you think it really does has value?
And how is it passed along? ie on an individual level does a person choose to become more empathetic? Or is empathy thrust upon us? (I'm thinking here of Steven Pinker's statement about peer groups and how people shift into roles because they are needed within the group.) Or do you think that some people are born more empathetic than others?
And a little off topic, another friend of mine has recommended evanescence to me. I see that you like them too. What are they like?
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why does it have importance to us today? ie what is it's current value or alternatively do you think it really does has value?
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Our society really is based on empathy. Do unto others as you would like done unto yourself right? You can't get friends or jobs if you're a dity snake who obviously cares about no one but themselves.
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And how is it passed along? ie on an individual level does a person choose to become more empathetic? Or is empathy thrust upon us? (I'm thinking here of Steven Pinker's statement about peer groups and how people shift into roles because they are needed within the group.) Or do you think that some people are born more empathetic than others?
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We are taught it as a kid. You shouldn't hit people because they hit back. It's a basic principle. People are not really born more empathetic, they are born naked and screaming. It all depends on how they were raised.
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(G)Our society really is based on empathy.
Do unto others as you would like done unto yourself right?
Well, I definitely agree with that! I don't know if I can see that our society is based in empathy though? Think we might have to start by defining somethings if we're going to put that forth as a statement and then support it... When you say society are you thinking of all America?
You can't get friends or jobs if you're a dity snake who obviously cares about no one but themselves.
Well, for jobs, that leads to another question about whether we value empathy more than performance? Wouldn't that depend on the job? If you look at being in school as a job (which it is, a big one) which do you think is valued more?
I think the friends issue might be a bit more complicated too. So I'm going to leave that aside for now, if that's OK.
(A)And how is it passed along? ie on an individual level does a person choose to become more empathetic? Or is empathy thrust upon us? (I'm thinking here of Steven Pinker's statement about peer groups and how people shift into roles because they are needed within the group.) Or do you think that some people are born more empathetic than others?
(G)We are taught it as a kid. You shouldn't hit people because they hit back. It's a basic principle. People are not really born more empathetic, they are born naked and screaming. It all depends on how they were raised.
I think that I was taught different types of things by my parents. they had some basic ideas in common; but the way that they made those ideas real differed. Like frex my Dad would be more likely to teach me that I shouldn't hit other people because they might hit back, and that hitting only led to more hitting, and lots of mess. Whereas, my Mom was much more likely to tell me that I shouldn't hit people because that would hurt them and that was bad.
Actually this whole hitting thing is an interesting example because there are pretty different views on it. When we came to Cohoes, I forbade Ben to fight (or hit people) but in amongst the ten to thirteen year old boys if you didn't get into fight you're considered a sissy, and really teased in pretty horrible ways. So theer's a pretty huge difference between what I teach Ben and what he saw around him in other places. (Once people get a little older there's not nearly as much physical fighting, but a lot more verbal.)
Sometimes it's what your parents are teaching you and sometimes it's what your friends are. And figuring out how much each of these makes a difference is part of what people (like Steven Pinker but many others too) are trying to do right now.
And just so you know, I happen to think that there is a part you're born with AND a part you learn. :grin: But that's just me. And I like to hear what other people think about it.
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And a little off topic, another friend of mine has recommended evanescence to me. I see that you like them too. What are they like?
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They are pretty good. They have good music, kinda dark, but still good. Really the best part is the lead singer's voice.
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