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Empathy and Utopia

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sister_of_mercy On March 11, 2015




London, United Kingdom
#1New Post! Sep 01, 2011 @ 10:34:50
I'm watching a video on the notion of empathic civilisation by Jeremy Rifkin and he said that theoretically, from a psychological perspective, in any kind of utopia there would be no empathy as there'd be no suffering or mortality, He says that the notion of being empathetic derives from a shared sense of solidarity we have with other human being and with animals in our understanding of mortality and that lives are short, as well as from understanding emotions. He claims that we develop these drives neurologically from the time we can recognise ourselves in the mirror and increase our awareness of other people.

Therefore by virtue of a perfect society or utopia there would be no suffering so thus no opportunity to show empathy towards the feelings of other, as everyone would be happy anyway.

So my question is whether or not you think this would be the case in your idea of utopia. Does it make sense to you?
Electric_Banana On February 05, 2024




, New Zealand
#2New Post! Sep 01, 2011 @ 10:58:42
I don't know, Sister. I keep getting the impression that I'm the only one left in a box that I've never left and am afraid to leave.

But what you're saying is that our existence here gives our love much more substance.
sister_of_mercy On March 11, 2015




London, United Kingdom
#3New Post! Sep 01, 2011 @ 11:01:31
@Electric_Banana Said

I don't know, Sister. I keep getting the impression that I'm the only one left in a box that I've never left and am afraid to leave.

But what you're saying is that our existence here gives our love much more substance.



Not really, what I'm saying is that suffering seems to be a necessary requirement for empathy.
Electric_Banana On February 05, 2024




, New Zealand
#4New Post! Sep 01, 2011 @ 11:01:50
This does make more sense as to why I'm so adamant to be somebody for someone instead of taking advantage of feeding my desires.
Electric_Banana On February 05, 2024




, New Zealand
#5New Post! Sep 01, 2011 @ 11:04:49
@sister_of_mercy Said

Not really, what I'm saying is that suffering seems to be a necessary requirement for empathy.



I could sacrifice empathy to remove suffering.

But the other problem is loss of individuality.
Electric_Banana On February 05, 2024




, New Zealand
#6New Post! Sep 01, 2011 @ 12:26:13
Hmm....actually this is ingenious.

Remove all suffering.

No one will be able to rely on symapathy and empathy to feel and share love any more.

And from that point forwards the only way left to do so will be for everyone to move in on one another for hugs and smooches.
futilevoice On October 07, 2016

Deleted



, Illinois
#7New Post! Sep 03, 2011 @ 01:17:33
I think empathy can exist without suffering. It is basically a feeling of understanding for someone or something. That feeling can be happiness as well. I don't see any reason why a utopia would exist without the capacity for empathy.
Willi On August 21, 2018




northinmind,
#8New Post! Sep 03, 2011 @ 01:47:55
empathy should lead to less suffereng.
utopia should have a history to explain how it became.
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