Empathy as potential
Krista Tippett, host of On Being, says in the June 2, 2016 broadcast on “Capitalism and Moral Evolution: a Civil Provocation” states:
“And then we get to the point where we are now in the early 21st century, and someone like you can say it this way, that empathy is in us from the beginning, as a potential, right? Not necessarily in everyone. “A kind of emotional-brain resonance enhanced by mirror neurons,” which is a whole other way of looking at ourselves. I’m fascinated by the evolution of our way of grappling with this.
Her guests for this discussion are Jonathan Haidt the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University’s Stern School of Business and Melvin Konner the Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Anthropology and of Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology at Emory University.
The ensuing discussion is a fascinating exploration of the role of particular economic systems, codes of conduct within and outside of the structure of organized religion and the evolution of the ability of we humans to become what I will label as other or community oriented. The questions include:
· Is an economic system such as capitalism a necessary prerequisite to a more expanded view of our interconnectedness?
· Is fear a necessary and positive motivating factor for we humans to consider the needs of each other?
· Is some religious code necessary for we humans to honor the sacredness of all of existence?
The wording of these questions, while stimulated by the discussion between Dr. Haidt, Dr. Konner and Ms. Tippett, is entirely my own. I, as usual, encourage the reader of my blog to download the app for “On Being” and listen to the weekly podcast as well as making use of other blogs and writings on the On Being web site.
In 1942, the famous psychologist, Abraham Maslow published an article in Psychological Review entitled “A theory of human motivation.” In this article he offered a model for thinking about the hierarchy of needs for we humans. His theory is summarized as:
This five stage model can be divided into basic (or deficiency) needs (e.g. physiological, safety, love, and esteem) and growth needs (self-actualization).
The deficiency or basic needs are said to motivate people when they are unmet. Also, the need to fulfil such needs will become stronger the longer the duration they are denied. For example, the longer a person goes without food the more hungry s/he will become. (Simplypsychology.org)
Another way of conceptualization his theory, as I understand it, is that until we humans satisfy our basic needs we do not have the luxury of becoming self-actualized. It is only at this stage of development that we can have the luxury of considering the needs of others. Whether we are looking at a so-called primitive tribe in some remote region where there is a scarcity of resources and concern for others is limited to that tribe or at an individual living in the poorest ghetto in the world where there is a limited access to food and other basic needs, Maslow’s theory seems to be proven correct.
In some communities or countries several factors have coalesced to challenge us to further explore the factors which might result in creating a more just and cooperative world – a world in which we humans are more empathic with each other and with the rest of the universe(s). These include:
· Increasing awareness of the resources available to some people and withheld from others (television, smart phones, the Internet and greater access to even the printed word play a role).
· A seemingly successful capitalist economic system which, in some case, allowed for a large share of the population to lead a good life.
· The increasing awareness and questioning of the different religious and philosophical frameworks for exploring how we determine the rules for how we relate to each other, mother earth and the universe (s).
· The increasing public disparity between the extent to which various humans can meet basic needs and move toward self-actualization.
· Increasing awareness, to which Ms. Tippett alludes, of the biological factors such as mirror neurons which affect such abilities as that of being empathic. This, of course, leads to questioning the extent to which we humans have choices about our behavior.
· Population increase although except in parts of Africa the population increase may be moving in the direction of significantly slowing.
It is very tempting to assume that the awareness of these issues are the original epiphany of present day humans. They are, however, issues which have been explored for as long as any of we humans had the luxury of a free five minutes to ask them.
Although some things such as smart phones, the Internet, television, and certain modes of transportation are indeed new to this generation of planet earth residents (leaving aside the question of civilizations on other plants and/or in other universes), the questions about how we relate to each other and divide the resources are not new.
I do think it is true as Dr. Haidt points out in the discussion on On Being that while a form of capitalism has been the overriding economic system which has allowed some members of the population to move towards the luxury of self-actualization, we may need to remind ourselves of several factors:
· There are many forms of capitalism. “These include laissez-faire or free market capitalism, welfare capitalism, and state capitalism. Different forms of capitalism feature varying degrees of free markets, public ownership,[8] obstacles to free competition, and state-sanctioned social policies. The degree of competition in markets, the role of intervention and regulation, and the scope of state ownership vary across different models of capitalism.” (Wikipedia) Obviously this is an overly simplistic overview of a concept which fills the pages of many academic books.
· No matter what the economic system even those who may enjoy enormous economic success do not satisfy the basic needs of love and esteem. As long as those needs are not realized no matter what their economic success they will not be able to enjoy the luxury of considering the needs of others. There are those who might argue the needs of love and esteem are even more basic or as basic as food, water, and safety.
· Related to the need for esteem are factors such as racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination and oppression. It may be important to remind ourselves that concepts such as racism are artificial constructs, the purpose of which is to bolster one’s self esteem/sense of worth.
I agree with Ms. Tippett that within the limits of biological factors we humans have the potential becoming empathic. Although obviously we need some basics such as food to physically stay alive, I am not sure that we need much financially to be empathic. I have known many individuals and families who had very little financially but who were enormously generous in their love. Obviously we all also know or know about individuals who have accumulated much financial wealth and are living in a safe compound but who are unable to consider the needs of others.
It may be that some form of capitalism will allow for the possibility of taking better care of each other. I am not sure that any one economic system in some illusionary pure form can create the conditions for we humans to become self-actualized. I am assuming, of course, that self-actualization necessarily leads to our awareness that we are all equally “sacred” and, thus, knowing and understanding myself leads to knowing and understanding “the other” which leads to knowing and understanding “self.”
Written June 5, 2016
Krista Tippett, host of On Being, says in the June 2, 2016 broadcast on “Capitalism and Moral Evolution: a Civil Provocation” states:
“And then we get to the point where we are now in the early 21st century, and someone like you can say it this way, that empathy is in us from the beginning, as a potential, right? Not necessarily in everyone. “A kind of emotional-brain resonance enhanced by mirror neurons,” which is a whole other way of looking at ourselves. I’m fascinated by the evolution of our way of grappling with this.
Her guests for this discussion are Jonathan Haidt the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University’s Stern School of Business and Melvin Konner the Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Anthropology and of Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology at Emory University.
The ensuing discussion is a fascinating exploration of the role of particular economic systems, codes of conduct within and outside of the structure of organized religion and the evolution of the ability of we humans to become what I will label as other or community oriented. The questions include:
· Is an economic system such as capitalism a necessary prerequisite to a more expanded view of our interconnectedness?
· Is fear a necessary and positive motivating factor for we humans to consider the needs of each other?
· Is some religious code necessary for we humans to honor the sacredness of all of existence?
The wording of these questions, while stimulated by the discussion between Dr. Haidt, Dr. Konner and Ms. Tippett, is entirely my own. I, as usual, encourage the reader of my blog to download the app for “On Being” and listen to the weekly podcast as well as making use of other blogs and writings on the On Being web site.
In 1942, the famous psychologist, Abraham Maslow published an article in Psychological Review entitled “A theory of human motivation.” In this article he offered a model for thinking about the hierarchy of needs for we humans. His theory is summarized as:
This five stage model can be divided into basic (or deficiency) needs (e.g. physiological, safety, love, and esteem) and growth needs (self-actualization).
The deficiency or basic needs are said to motivate people when they are unmet. Also, the need to fulfil such needs will become stronger the longer the duration they are denied. For example, the longer a person goes without food the more hungry s/he will become. (Simplypsychology.org)
Another way of conceptualization his theory, as I understand it, is that until we humans satisfy our basic needs we do not have the luxury of becoming self-actualized. It is only at this stage of development that we can have the luxury of considering the needs of others. Whether we are looking at a so-called primitive tribe in some remote region where there is a scarcity of resources and concern for others is limited to that tribe or at an individual living in the poorest ghetto in the world where there is a limited access to food and other basic needs, Maslow’s theory seems to be proven correct.
In some communities or countries several factors have coalesced to challenge us to further explore the factors which might result in creating a more just and cooperative world – a world in which we humans are more empathic with each other and with the rest of the universe(s). These include:
· Increasing awareness of the resources available to some people and withheld from others (television, smart phones, the Internet and greater access to even the printed word play a role).
· A seemingly successful capitalist economic system which, in some case, allowed for a large share of the population to lead a good life.
· The increasing awareness and questioning of the different religious and philosophical frameworks for exploring how we determine the rules for how we relate to each other, mother earth and the universe (s).
· The increasing public disparity between the extent to which various humans can meet basic needs and move toward self-actualization.
· Increasing awareness, to which Ms. Tippett alludes, of the biological factors such as mirror neurons which affect such abilities as that of being empathic. This, of course, leads to questioning the extent to which we humans have choices about our behavior.
· Population increase although except in parts of Africa the population increase may be moving in the direction of significantly slowing.
It is very tempting to assume that the awareness of these issues are the original epiphany of present day humans. They are, however, issues which have been explored for as long as any of we humans had the luxury of a free five minutes to ask them.
Although some things such as smart phones, the Internet, television, and certain modes of transportation are indeed new to this generation of planet earth residents (leaving aside the question of civilizations on other plants and/or in other universes), the questions about how we relate to each other and divide the resources are not new.
I do think it is true as Dr. Haidt points out in the discussion on On Being that while a form of capitalism has been the overriding economic system which has allowed some members of the population to move towards the luxury of self-actualization, we may need to remind ourselves of several factors:
· There are many forms of capitalism. “These include laissez-faire or free market capitalism, welfare capitalism, and state capitalism. Different forms of capitalism feature varying degrees of free markets, public ownership,[8] obstacles to free competition, and state-sanctioned social policies. The degree of competition in markets, the role of intervention and regulation, and the scope of state ownership vary across different models of capitalism.” (Wikipedia) Obviously this is an overly simplistic overview of a concept which fills the pages of many academic books.
· No matter what the economic system even those who may enjoy enormous economic success do not satisfy the basic needs of love and esteem. As long as those needs are not realized no matter what their economic success they will not be able to enjoy the luxury of considering the needs of others. There are those who might argue the needs of love and esteem are even more basic or as basic as food, water, and safety.
· Related to the need for esteem are factors such as racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination and oppression. It may be important to remind ourselves that concepts such as racism are artificial constructs, the purpose of which is to bolster one’s self esteem/sense of worth.
I agree with Ms. Tippett that within the limits of biological factors we humans have the potential becoming empathic. Although obviously we need some basics such as food to physically stay alive, I am not sure that we need much financially to be empathic. I have known many individuals and families who had very little financially but who were enormously generous in their love. Obviously we all also know or know about individuals who have accumulated much financial wealth and are living in a safe compound but who are unable to consider the needs of others.
It may be that some form of capitalism will allow for the possibility of taking better care of each other. I am not sure that any one economic system in some illusionary pure form can create the conditions for we humans to become self-actualized. I am assuming, of course, that self-actualization necessarily leads to our awareness that we are all equally “sacred” and, thus, knowing and understanding myself leads to knowing and understanding “the other” which leads to knowing and understanding “self.”
Written June 5, 2016
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