Empathy may be bad for the health

[bernie14]

Genetically speaking, this isn't actually true afaik.

from what I just read, humans and chimp/bonobos common ancestor was BEFORE the chimp/bonobos bifurcation, so it's really insignificant...

 

[timtofly]

aren't the bonobos an endangered species?.. in any case, I find those types of articles a little silly...."well, if humans could just grow wings, well, then we would be able to fly..." either a good amount of DNA manipulation OR education/indoctrination would be required and I don't think we have mastered either to the point of significantly changing human nature

What does being an endangered species have to do with anything? Are you implying that bonobos and evolution are cognizant of what survival is? The point of survival may be day to day, but how does that square with global recognition of the fact? The point of evolution is what is passed on genetically after a mass extinction event, not the preparation for one.

 

[bernie14]

the only thing I was pointing out was that as a species, they have not flourished and have become endangered, don't know what you mean by that other stuff you wrote....

 

[Hehehe]

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-05-mile-hazardous-health.html

The short version: there are two kinds of empathy and one allows for greater 'distance' from the pain of others, but the 2nd kind - 'walking a mile in their shoes' - attempts to 'feel their pain'. Anyone who has experienced the suffering of others (who hasn't) will probably know if they enjoy a proper detachment from the pain or not, I tend to be in the 2nd group.

That creates an interesting problem... If greater intelligence produces more empathetic people, and greater empathy can be bad for our health, does that mean the more 'cold-hearted' among us (and by that I dont mean anything other than having a safer detachment from others' suffering) are better suited for survival?

A very interesting article. I would place myself in the first category, but I don't know if this type of empathy has also downsides

"You can think about another person's feelings without taking those feelings upon yourself (IOPT)"