Empathy

“The highest form of knowledge is empathy.” -Bill Bullard

What is empathy? The textbook definition has always been of putting yourself in someone else’s shoes to see things from their point of view. But isn’t that an aspect of basic psychology; to determine why a person thinks or acts a certain way? People usually associate the aftermath of empathy with compromise or giving in to the other person. But it can be something far beyond that. If we learn to empathize on a bigger level, going as far as to understand why terrorists, kidnappers and/or murderers commit the heinous acts that they do, there’s a possibility of a higher prevention rate. Empathy need not be just a thought process of “I understand your point of view and am fine with it.” It can also be an outlook that says, “I understand why that person did what he or she did and can stop them the next time.” The other misconception about empathy seems to be equating it to agreement. It’s not. You can understand something from a fresh perspective and still disagree. I know why paedophiles act the way they do. They have a serious illness of perversion. But that doesn’t make it right or forgivable in any shape or form. Empathy has a lot of benefits on an intimate level with family and friends and on a bigger level as well. We just need to learn to apply it beyond the status quo. How do you feel about empathy? Is it something you apply to everyone or just your loved ones? Share your thoughts below in the comments section.