Is empathy necessary for human survival?
Why or why not?
What does Veeky Forums think?
Landon Ross
Jaxson Myers
What a ridiculous question.
We have no other reference point to judge.
Anthony Long
If mothers didn't have empathy they wouldn't raise children
Kevin Peterson
Obviously not.
Ryan Hill
> If mothers didn't have empathy they wouldn't raise children
Why would that be a action out of empathy? Isnt the survival and health of your offspring vital to surivival of your own species and your genes, therefore wouldn't it be more of a survival tactic than and emotional reaction?
Nathan Taylor
> no other reference point to judge
Enlighten me senpai. What the fuck dies that even mean?
James Barnes
children are often obnoxious and difficult to be around. even with empathy parents often kill their children (by shaking them too hard for example) so i think its fair to assume that infant mortality would skyrocket if people didnt have empathy
Connor Clark
It's a evolutionary advantage for mothers to empathize with their offspring if they are long-term single offspring mammals.
Something like an insect or fish can just blow out 1,000 eggs and take off.
Luke Reed
Yes. Being nice is an extremely rewarding strategy for social creatures, according to game theory.
Gavin Martinez
Fair point. What about the argument "war creates technological advancement"? Isn't the whole essence of war is an utter lack of empathy?
Ryan Harris
they wouldnt raise daughters*
Luis Peterson
"Being nice" & having empathy are 2 completely different things m8
James Nelson
They're related when it comes to survival.
Andrew Martin
Having empathy makes one more likely to take friendly or "nice" actions as opposed to hostile or neutral actions.
Cameron Sanchez
Yes
Connor Lopez
But I can be "nice" while im conning old people to scam them out of there money. Smiling in their face but doesnt mean i care about them.
Benjamin Wilson
There's a very short list of things that are necessary for human survival. Everything else is either beneficial or harmful.
I'd personally say empathy isn't necessary, but it is beneficial in small groups. A small group of people who are willing to understand eachother and to work together is always going to work out better than a small group of people who don't give a fuck about eachother. In terms of larger society? That's a lot more difficult to argue about and conceptualize.
Robert Miller
That's hardly being nice. Maybe I chose the wrong word. "Beneficent action" should satisfy your autism.
Ayden Jackson
> beneficent action
A conman is benefiting when he's getting you to give him his money. He's also tricking you into thinking that it's benefiting you.
Landon Allen
But he isn't benefiting the other party in reality. "Action beneficial to the other party" is what you want me to call it? That's fucking autistic.
Thomas Perry
Ok so why should it benifit both parties
Gabriel Gutierrez
Nathaniel Wood
It is empathy
Empathy for your people and your nation.
Michael Thomas
Empathy for your ingroup's survival and goals outweighing the empathy for your outgroup.
Nolan Morris
But that doesn't benefit both parties, as anons above mentioned.
Also we're all the same species, where is the "out group" , how is it determined
Noah Howard
Kayden Gomez
If you only care about yourself, why would you care about the survival of your species after you are dead?
Anthony Jenkins
Zachary Wilson
Psychopaths exist, don't they?
Gavin Hall
Yes
Easton Miller
Community
Leo Nelson
Everything that we do that survives is a way to overcome death. Therefore caring for the future of earth is a way to secure one's memory which will be remembered.