Why Empathy Is Overrated
Rational compassion is more impactful than passive empathy
“In contrast to empathy, compassion does not mean sharing the suffering of the other: rather, it is characterized by feelings of warmth, concern and care for the other, as well as a strong motivation to improve the other’s well-being. Compassion is feeling for and not feeling with the other.”
― Paul Bloom, Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion
An empathic mindset does not give anybody a clean chit for their moral character.
People who perform evil deeds may possess a spark of empathy inside them.
Hitler loved dogs. He hated hunting. Does his empathy for animals make him a good person?
Paul Bloom says empathy is a spotlight. It shines brightly on a specific person or target and dimly on those we do not know or dislike.
When we read the story of a starving child in Africa, we feel sorry for her. Our empathy may not extend to thousands of similar children in the rest of Africa and other parts of the world.
A doctor may feel empathy for a specific cancer patient, but not for hundreds of similar patients.
Cognitive empathy is better for doctors than emotional empathy. Rational compassion is the best for medical professionals because they’ll use their competence and knowledge to help a wider circle of patients.
Empathy is not a single attribute; it has three components:
- Cognitive empathy: the ability to understand others’ perspectives
- Affective empathy: the ability to step into others’ shoes and feel what they feel.
- Compassionate empathy: the desire to actively help others.
We use the word ‘empathy’ as an all-encompassing expression. An empathic person may not possess all the three elements of empathy.
Bullies and psychopaths are good at studying the minds of others, which is related to cognitive empathy. So strictly speaking, they are also empathic people.
Since empathy has a narrow focus, it can even make us ignore or dislike others who are culturally different from us.
Compassion is an active kind of kindness because it mostly leads to perceptible and productive efforts to help others.
Empathy, without its compassionate element, is nothing but shedding tears without helping the victims. It’s passive kindness, most of the time.
Even emotional empathy is overrated. It’s impossible to entirely understand the experiences of others.
Suppose two people are involved in an accident and lose a limb each. How they feel and respond to the accident could be radically different. We can never climb into others’ shoes.
Paul Bloom is not against empathy as such. Empathy can make people help others, but it’s not an unqualified blessing. We should not ignore its dark side. We should be aware of its limits. It’s a poor moral guide to be good and to do good.
Rational compassion, on the other hand, motivates us to ameliorate the suffering of a larger circle of people. It has a broader reach than empathy. Paul Bloom said,
“Being a good person is related to more distanced compassion, along with self-control, and a sense of justice.”
Empathy is good, but rational compassion is better, whether it’s public policy, charity, or relationships.
Thanks for reading!
