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@vgr·Sep 8, 2014Replying to @uriahz@uriahz @ctbeiser politicized empathy/collectivism is not based on sociology anymore than individualism. It is based on kool-aid.1
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
Uriah Z Maynard@uriahz·Sep 8, 2014Replying to @vgr@vgr @ctbeiser So your argument is against sociology itself?11
Venkatesh Rao@vgr·Sep 8, 2014Replying to @uriahz@uriahz @ctbeiser against valorization of empathy. Credible sociology makes no value judgments of traits involved in social behavior21
Uriah Z Maynard@uriahz·Sep 8, 2014Replying to @vgr@vgr @ctbeiser But it DOES have the admirable goal of understanding the socio-cultural motivations of social behavior.1
Venkatesh Rao@vgrReplying to @uriahz@uriahz @ctbeiser no arguments there. So do I. As amateur sociologist, I am also wary of valorizing intelligence/creativity as alpha virtues4:46 AM · Sep 8, 20141 Retweet
Uriah Z Maynard@uriahz·Sep 8, 2014Replying to @vgr@vgr @ctbeiser In some sense, no trait is better than any other train and all can lead to suffering. But! Some traits are highly useful.
Uriah Z Maynard@uriahz·Sep 8, 2014Replying to @vgr@vgr @ctbeiser Even in strictly utilitarian terms, empathy, like intelligence and creativity, easily pass muster for creating social good.
Uriah Z Maynard@uriahz·Sep 8, 2014Replying to @vgr@vgr @ctbeiser The main problem causing inter-group suffering is not over-valuing empathy, but in limiting it to your own social group.