Uriah Z Maynard@uriahz·Sep 8, 2014Replying to @ctbeiser@ctbeiser @vgr No, empathy is the process by which we gain insight into others, so that we can become capable of alleviating their pain.2
Venkatesh Rao@vgr·Sep 8, 2014Replying to @uriahz@uriahz @ctbeiser in fact assuming you *can* understand others is a deeply intrusive kind of arrogance that predisposes people to cruelty.42
Uriah Z Maynard@uriahz·Sep 8, 2014Replying to @vgr@vgr @ctbeiser Empathy is like a mirror you use to understand the poetic complexity of others: always a flawed and emergent process.1
Venkatesh Rao@vgr·Sep 8, 2014Replying to @uriahz@uriahz @ctbeiser again, "poetic" = unfalsifiable holier-than-thou itis. Poetic understanding also leads to, contempt, honor killings etc.1
Uriah Z Maynard@uriahz·Sep 8, 2014Replying to @vgr@vgr @ctbeiser I use poetic to describe the inherently multi-layered, flawed, dynamic & sometimes contradictory nature of the human psyche.1
Venkatesh Rao@vgr·Sep 8, 2014Replying to @uriahz@uriahz @ctbeiser yes, I can see thats what you mean. I assert it's arrogant to assume you understand even a spouse of 50 years that well.1
Uriah Z Maynard@uriahz·Sep 8, 2014Replying to @vgr@vgr @ctbeiser Again, it's not about achieving the goal of understanding, it's about the many benefits of pursuing it.1
Venkatesh Rao@vgr·Sep 8, 2014Replying to @uriahz@uriahz @ctbeiser unfortunately, the values, politics of collectivism are based on pretending it is possible. Residual individualism =evil.2
Uriah Z Maynard@uriahz·Sep 8, 2014Replying to @vgr@vgr @ctbeiser Sociology is a science. Like economics and psychology, it's a murky one at best, but it can be accurately prescriptive.2
Venkatesh Rao@vgrReplying to @uriahz@uriahz @ctbeiser politicized empathy/collectivism is not based on sociology anymore than individualism. It is based on kool-aid.4:19 AM · Sep 8, 2014
Uriah Z Maynard@uriahz·Sep 8, 2014Replying to @vgr@vgr @ctbeiser Politicized empathy != collectivism, is different than personal empathy, & is totally vital to understanding sociology.1
Venkatesh Rao@vgr·Sep 8, 2014Replying to @uriahz@uriahz @ctbeiser understanding, yes. Uncritically accepting it as a valuable trait, not so much.1