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Comment author:siIver
06 October 2016 02:35:05PM
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3 points
[-]
I think this is the first article in a long time that straight up changed my opinion in a significant way. I always considered empathy a universally good thing – in all forms. In fact I held it as one of the highest values. But the logic of the article is hard to argue with.
I still tentatively disagree that it [emotional empathy] inherently bad. Following what I read, I'd say it's harmful because it's overvalued/misunderstood. The solution would be to recognize that it's an egoistical thing – as I'm writing this I can confirm that I think this now. Whereas cognitive empathy is the selfless thing.
Doing more self-analysis, I think I already understood this on some level, but I was holding the concept of empathy in such high regards that I wasn't able to consciously criticize it.
I think this article is something that people outside of this community really ought to read.
Comment author:Jacobian
06 October 2016 05:32:41PM
1 point
[-]
Thank you, this is the biggest compliment I could hope for.
I worry whenever I write anything that could fall into bravery debate territory. I worry that for some readers it would sound stale and obvious, or be the precise opposite of the advice they need, while others would reject it in disgust after reading two lines. I write about things that hit me in the right spot: ideas I was on the precipice of and something pushed me over. And then I hope that I'll find at least a few readers who are in the same spot I am.
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Comments (37)
I think this is the first article in a long time that straight up changed my opinion in a significant way. I always considered empathy a universally good thing – in all forms. In fact I held it as one of the highest values. But the logic of the article is hard to argue with.
I still tentatively disagree that it [emotional empathy] inherently bad. Following what I read, I'd say it's harmful because it's overvalued/misunderstood. The solution would be to recognize that it's an egoistical thing – as I'm writing this I can confirm that I think this now. Whereas cognitive empathy is the selfless thing.
Doing more self-analysis, I think I already understood this on some level, but I was holding the concept of empathy in such high regards that I wasn't able to consciously criticize it.
I think this article is something that people outside of this community really ought to read.
Thank you, this is the biggest compliment I could hope for.
I worry whenever I write anything that could fall into bravery debate territory. I worry that for some readers it would sound stale and obvious, or be the precise opposite of the advice they need, while others would reject it in disgust after reading two lines. I write about things that hit me in the right spot: ideas I was on the precipice of and something pushed me over. And then I hope that I'll find at least a few readers who are in the same spot I am.