Philosophy Colloquium
There will be a Philosophy Colloquium on Monday, March 3rd
at 4:00 pm in ABAH 235. All are welcome to attend.
Sympathy, Moral Psychology, and Mass Suffering
Presented by Ramona Cristina Ilea
Assistant Professor
Department of Philosophy
Pacific University
http://www.pacificu.edu/as/philosophy/faculty/ramona-ilea.cfm
Abstract: Starting with David Hume, philosophers have praised the virtues
of sympathy. In this presentation, I will argue that we cannot and should
not depend on our natural feeling of sympathy to motivate us to take action
against mass suffering and death. I will analyze psychological literature
to support the view that our individual sympathy has major limitations: (1)
psychological studies indicate that our natural sympathetic responses are
not trustworthy; (2) sympathy can lead us astray, moving us away from
caring
about mass suffering and death; and (3) sympathy can have a paralyzing
effect that leads to ignorance and inaction.