The only acquaintance I've had who was obviously non-empathic appeared to be quite amused by harming people, and he'd talk coldly about how it would be more convenient for him if his parents were dead. If I were a non-empathic person who'd chosen a strategy of following the rules to blend into society, I would find it very inconvenient for people to think I was anything like him, and would therefore attempt to emulate empathy under most conditions. Who would want to cooperate with me in a mutually profitable endeavor if they thought I was the kind of person who would find it funny to pour acetone on their pants and then light it on fire? Having people shudder when they think of me would be a disadvantage in many careers.
This creates a good correlation between visible non-empathy and mistreating people without requiring a belief that mistreating people is generally enjoyable or useful.
If I were a non-empathic person who'd chosen a strategy of following the rules to blend into society, I would find it very inconvenient for people to think I was anything like him, and would therefore attempt to emulate empathy under most conditions.
That's exactly how I approach the situation. I find the claim that I can't be moral without empathy just as ridiculous as you would find the claim that you can't be moral without believing in god. I also find moral philosophies that depend on either of them reprehensible. Claiming moral superiority because of thoughs or affects that are easy to feign is just utter status grabbing in my book.
If it's worth saying, but not worth its own post (even in Discussion), then it goes here.