Can You Run Out of Empathy?

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October 1, 2013

a project of ServiceSpace

I call him religious who understands the suffering of others.

- Mahatma Gandhi -

Can You Run Out of Empathy?

"It is impossible to empathize with seven billion strangers," argues psychologist Paul Bloom in his essay, "The Case Against Empathy." And though, the immense power of empathy has been demonstrated time and time again, Bloom's statement poses an intriguing question -- why do we not respond equally to all stories? For example, why are we more likely to respond to the tragedy at Sandy Hook, than to the fact that 'twenty million American children go to bed hungry each night'? Bloom refers to the 'single identifiable victim' theory -- suggesting we are more likely to respond to stories which have been personalized. "Our hearts will always go out to the baby in the well," offers Bloom. But does this mean that empathy is limited? Author C. Daryl Cameron could not disagree more... { read more }