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Is empathy rational?

By Elizabeth Dangerfield

To me, empathy is being able to imagine, understand, and feel what it is like to be in another person’s shoes – to walk with them and to want to alleviate their suffering. Quintessentially, it is about how I would want to be treated if I was in their situation.

Empathy is rational because it is part of human nature. Empathy is essential for human survival. It is hard wired into us. It helps us bond with our children and our friends, and strengthens our community ties. If we can show empathy, we can be trusted to help others when the going gets tough.

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"People who are empathetic, who care and share, and who are kind and benevolent, feel a warm inner glow, especially if they see the benefits for the recipient. One of the results of empathy is that people are treated as equals, and they then have a better chance of living up to their potential and, in doing so, contributing more to society."

Elizabeth Dangerfield

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