Cultures of Empathy
If the observer is drawn to mentally choose a side, then it is possible for the observer to also develop empathy as an emotional legitimization for choosing that side and not the other. The book discusses...
Most theories of empathy assume that the primary scene of empathy involves two people: One who has empathy with another. The author's hypothesis, however, is that human empathy derives from a scene of three individuals: One individual who observes a conflict between two others.
If the observer is drawn to mentally choose a side, then it is possible for the observer to also develop empathy as an emotional legitimization for choosing that side and not the other. The book discusses central cognitive theories of empathy (key words include: mirror neurons, Theory of Mind, and Stockholm Syndrome), presents an argument for the necessary connection of narrative and empathy, and offers readings of some canonical works of literature.
The work consists of the following parts:
Introduction
Chapter 1: Empathy and the Production of Dissimilarity
Chapter 2: Cultures of Construction – (Theory of Mind)
Chapter 3: The Invisible Third: Stockholm, Power Reciprocity
Chapter 4: Narrative Empathy
Epilogue: Is there an ethic of empathy?
Persons
Fritz Breithaupt
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Once Is Never Enough
Do you remember your first kiss? Our first experiences may have been terribly embarrassing, maybe clouded in our memory, yet they mark a beginning. Everything afterward becomes repetition. To be sure, repetitions carry their own power—they may be more enjoyable because we can compare them to what came before. This book explores the nature of human experiences. While we often think of...
The Narrative Brain
English world rights (Yale UP), Spanish world rights (Sexto Piso), Italy (Lit/Castelvecchi), Korea (Eco-Livres), Hungary (Typotex), Bulgaria (Funtasy)
The Dark Sides of Empathy
Empathy is considered the basis of moral action. But if we examine this more carefully, the ability to »empathize with other people« proves itself to be a prerequisite for deliberate...
English world rights (Cornell UP), Korea (SOSO)
Previously published in the respective language / territory; rights available again: Hungary (Typotex)
