Quote:
Originally Posted by Jellin Pico  I disagree only in the definition
I don't think the lack of empathy itself defines evil, since +I feel that just because you don't "feel" or "care" abut other people doesn't automatically mean you will do them harm.
I myself have been called a cold hearted motherfucker, yet I don't really consider myself "EVIL" ... ok maybe I am, but you get what I mean I hope.
However, I certainly think the lack of empathy is the gateway to evil. The start of evil.
I suppose it depends on the strength of ones personal ethics |
I agree with your basic idea, Jellin, although I've never been called a cold hearted motherfucker that I know of.
I think a lack of empathy can come from many sources. One big one is ignorance - if you do not fully understand the problems another faces or the consequences of those problems you will have a harder time empathizing. Another is defensive - you don't want to imagine yourself in such a bad situation or have similar weakness with faced with problems, so you reject it and refuse to put yourself in that person's shoes. You may even react very negatively to the person to show that you are nothing like that person. Another is experiencing very hard times yourself. If you are really struggling with something, very depressed, in deep grief, you may not have the energy and open heart enough to extend your thoughts to another's feelings. In a different situation you may be very empathetic, but in your crisis you have to retreat and become self-centered to survive. None of this is evil or even a certain gateway to evil IMO, and all can be reversed. Evil to me is not reversible, which is why you see Dick Cheney only walking forward.
I don't know if anything I wrote has anything to do with politics, however (aside from the mean Dick Cheney comment).
