My daughter is a nurse and has displayed what’s called “cognitive empathy” ( she is very easily able to understand how others feel) since she was very young and a high degree of empathetic concern ( she is motivated to relieve others suffering). She doesn’t however have high emotional empathy (she doesn’t herself match the feelings of others). This is I believe this combination is as the articles listed above note a better combination the those with high emotional empathy….at least for a nurse.
Here’s a story I tell about her at age 4 where these are to some degree displayed :
I am watching my daughter and her preschool friend play the simple board game Chutes and Ladders. And I realize my daughter is clearly cheating …..to lose. After her friend “ Janie” leaves I ask my daughter “ Were you cheating in order to lose?” And my daughter says “ Yeah. It just makes Janie so so happy when she wins and so sad when she loses” And I told her that was very nice of her. And my kid sort of rolls her eyes and says “I mean it’s Chutes and Ladders, who cares?”
I would like to make the case that Humility is the greatest virtue because it allows all the other virtues to take precedence over our innate desire to be in control.
They were all great! Lot's of LOL's this am! As per a suggested "Grateful and Thankful" resolution...I added laughter to the list! My family was great at laughing And I enjoy making others laugh. Could that be a virtue?
My con law professor once said that without the right to a fair trial, our first amendment rights are meaningless. A just society trumps (excuse the expression) as it does not depend on individual empathy. But then, I'm a Huskies fan.
That Michigan-Alabama game was amazing - and this is coming from a Spartan (MSU '89)! Best wishes for your team next week and an enjoyable time with your dad in A2.
I neglected to weigh in here on the virtue issue but am very glad to read all your, um, thoughtful and educated thoughts on the subject. I met and was close to someone for a short time who was a best friend of my childhood best friend. She referred to herself as an "empath" And she had a really rough ride thru life and it didn't end well. It is a high virtue in my mind and emotional state I guess. The discussion made me recall, Brene Brown's rather remarkable book, "The Atlas of the Heart" Will reread the PS later when more time allows and chew on this a bit more.
I’d normally go for that Monty Python Twitter gag, but I simply can’t condone a joke that mischaracterizes the original (sacred?) text: at no point does the pet shop clerk suggest that the bird was alive when purchased. We must protect the classics! Happy New Year to all — may you spend your time neither nailed to your perch nor merely pining for the fjords!
Love those two programs on Saturday nights at WTTW. Thank you for teaching me about who helped make them happen. And thanks for a year of learning, laughing, scoffing and sharing.
On the visual ToTW, I had a Hobson's choice in selecting between the Monty Python pet shop skit and Schrodinger's Dumpster. I voted for the former (my junior high self coming to the fore).
The Michigan-Alabama game was an instant classic last night, despite all of the sloppy play by both teams - in critical moments, no less. Go Blue!
I enjoyed your dive in empathy - a great topic. I believe that I, too, have a fairly well-honed "cognitive empathy" outlook. (Good negotiators do, too.) Knowing what motivates the counterparty is a great way to reach an agreement.
Eric, I see you are searching for the highest level of virtues. I would start with the lowest set of virtues. Say tolerance, respect and non-violence would be a good start.
A violent act, a nasty tweet or threat (particularly when brandishing a gun) leaves a long evil stain in the world. It can undo a lifetime of empathy or love.
So I agree to strive for the better virtues but let’s practice these lower ones conscientiously.
Do not threaten people or their families online or in person, put your damn gun away and accept the fact that ALL people have a right to live on this earth. NO ONE poisons anyone’s blood.
With Washington changing conferences, no matter which team wins, the reigning BCS champ will be a B1G team this fall. Of course, when Michigan has to vacate all its wins over the past couple seasons or so, that could leave a blemish. Eric, I assume you've seen the video from the 2022 UM-OSU game? Hard to deny there was sign stealing going on.
I was pleasantly surprised to see the picture of Phil Burno, then immediately saddened to read he had died. I had the pleasure of interacting with Phil in my first job. He taught me a lot about philanthropy and how to be a kind person. My life is so much better for having known him, as are the collections at the University of Chicago Library, which he generously supported. I will always remember vividly dinners with Phil at Gene & Georgetti's, along with so much more.
To choose one virtue - Benevolence, as described in the philosophy of Bushido, would be my choice. Empathy would certainly fall within the parameters of Benevolence.
Happy New Year without too much fear and trembling to all.
My daughter is a nurse and has displayed what’s called “cognitive empathy” ( she is very easily able to understand how others feel) since she was very young and a high degree of empathetic concern ( she is motivated to relieve others suffering). She doesn’t however have high emotional empathy (she doesn’t herself match the feelings of others). This is I believe this combination is as the articles listed above note a better combination the those with high emotional empathy….at least for a nurse.
Here’s a story I tell about her at age 4 where these are to some degree displayed :
I am watching my daughter and her preschool friend play the simple board game Chutes and Ladders. And I realize my daughter is clearly cheating …..to lose. After her friend “ Janie” leaves I ask my daughter “ Were you cheating in order to lose?” And my daughter says “ Yeah. It just makes Janie so so happy when she wins and so sad when she loses” And I told her that was very nice of her. And my kid sort of rolls her eyes and says “I mean it’s Chutes and Ladders, who cares?”
LOL on the eyeroll! Suspect she is lovely in and out
Yes she is!
I believe they prefer to be called "former Marines", not ex-Marines.
"Once a Marine, always a Marine.”
You are correct, but in fairness those words were quoting Rich Warren, they were not written by EZ so there's not much he can do here.
I would like to make the case that Humility is the greatest virtue because it allows all the other virtues to take precedence over our innate desire to be in control.
Wow! All good visual txeets this week!
They were all great! Lot's of LOL's this am! As per a suggested "Grateful and Thankful" resolution...I added laughter to the list! My family was great at laughing And I enjoy making others laugh. Could that be a virtue?
Maybe call it "sense of humor!"
My con law professor once said that without the right to a fair trial, our first amendment rights are meaningless. A just society trumps (excuse the expression) as it does not depend on individual empathy. But then, I'm a Huskies fan.
I'm a Huskies fan, so no empathy for Michigan fans?
That Michigan-Alabama game was amazing - and this is coming from a Spartan (MSU '89)! Best wishes for your team next week and an enjoyable time with your dad in A2.
I (U-M LSA '66) was expecting Michigan to do better than squeak by in overtime. Some good plays, but some really sloppy ones, too (on both sides).
But it was EXCITING
I neglected to weigh in here on the virtue issue but am very glad to read all your, um, thoughtful and educated thoughts on the subject. I met and was close to someone for a short time who was a best friend of my childhood best friend. She referred to herself as an "empath" And she had a really rough ride thru life and it didn't end well. It is a high virtue in my mind and emotional state I guess. The discussion made me recall, Brene Brown's rather remarkable book, "The Atlas of the Heart" Will reread the PS later when more time allows and chew on this a bit more.
I’d normally go for that Monty Python Twitter gag, but I simply can’t condone a joke that mischaracterizes the original (sacred?) text: at no point does the pet shop clerk suggest that the bird was alive when purchased. We must protect the classics! Happy New Year to all — may you spend your time neither nailed to your perch nor merely pining for the fjords!
Love those two programs on Saturday nights at WTTW. Thank you for teaching me about who helped make them happen. And thanks for a year of learning, laughing, scoffing and sharing.
On the visual ToTW, I had a Hobson's choice in selecting between the Monty Python pet shop skit and Schrodinger's Dumpster. I voted for the former (my junior high self coming to the fore).
The Michigan-Alabama game was an instant classic last night, despite all of the sloppy play by both teams - in critical moments, no less. Go Blue!
I enjoyed your dive in empathy - a great topic. I believe that I, too, have a fairly well-honed "cognitive empathy" outlook. (Good negotiators do, too.) Knowing what motivates the counterparty is a great way to reach an agreement.
Eric, I see you are searching for the highest level of virtues. I would start with the lowest set of virtues. Say tolerance, respect and non-violence would be a good start.
A violent act, a nasty tweet or threat (particularly when brandishing a gun) leaves a long evil stain in the world. It can undo a lifetime of empathy or love.
So I agree to strive for the better virtues but let’s practice these lower ones conscientiously.
Do not threaten people or their families online or in person, put your damn gun away and accept the fact that ALL people have a right to live on this earth. NO ONE poisons anyone’s blood.
With Washington changing conferences, no matter which team wins, the reigning BCS champ will be a B1G team this fall. Of course, when Michigan has to vacate all its wins over the past couple seasons or so, that could leave a blemish. Eric, I assume you've seen the video from the 2022 UM-OSU game? Hard to deny there was sign stealing going on.
I was pleasantly surprised to see the picture of Phil Burno, then immediately saddened to read he had died. I had the pleasure of interacting with Phil in my first job. He taught me a lot about philanthropy and how to be a kind person. My life is so much better for having known him, as are the collections at the University of Chicago Library, which he generously supported. I will always remember vividly dinners with Phil at Gene & Georgetti's, along with so much more.
To choose one virtue - Benevolence, as described in the philosophy of Bushido, would be my choice. Empathy would certainly fall within the parameters of Benevolence.