General Discussion

Martin Eden

(15,091 posts)

10. Lack of empathy may be a requisite for evil, but not the definition of it

Reply to StrictlyRockers (Original post)

Thu Oct 30, 2025, 09:44 AM

Thursday

Not caring about the plight of victims is one thing. Actually victimizing them is another.

Of course, there are shades of gray. Ordinary Trump voters enabled what is now happening on the streets of American cities, and some applaud it because they don't just lack empathy -- they HATE the victims.

Setting aside current events, if no one is being victimized -- no evil is being done -- does a lack of empathy in and of itself constitute evil?

Sociopathy, perhaps.

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"Evil, I think, is the absence of empathy." [View all] StrictlyRockers Wednesday OP

precisely true normalynn Wednesday #1

Musk is a profoundly fucked up human, as is Trump, Miller, Vought, Johnson, Tuberville, Comer, etc. Blues Heron Wednesday #2

And compassion. Clouds Passing Wednesday #3

I'll believe that any empathetic human can be turned into a monster if their lives depend on it. erronis Wednesday #4

If Schopenhauer's observations are correct, compassion is the basis of morality pat_k Wednesday #5

I think that evil is much larger than the absence of empathy. milestogo Wednesday #6

Like this guy...? Grins Wednesday #7

From 65 years ago, Codifer Wednesday #8

Trump could shoot someone on 5th avenue. Initech Wednesday #9

Lack of empathy may be a requisite for evil, but not the definition of it Martin Eden Thursday #10

Lack of empathy was praised by Kirk too. Jbraybarten Thursday #11

There's lack of empathy & compassionate, plus Active Cruelty electric_blue68 Thursday #12