Interesting opinion. I read most of the NYT comments and boy, that opinion definitely rattled many. It's interesting to consider that empathy is multi-faceted. In relation to Musk, he's also on the spectrum, which is known to affect one's "empathy" or social interactions with others. I think that affects his overall ability to consider the affective empathic side of his business decisions. He's also a known Ketamine user and possibly other drugs, affecting his overall behavior, there's more at play than just affect of cognitive empathy. Unless, you're saying that those factors can also play a part of either side of empathy. Definite valid points on how "empathy" can be used for control, that's unfortunate and I wonder how we can hold leaders accountable, as stated in your NYT article? Do we tell them to stop? Do we ignore them? Is there an antidote? the billon dollar question I suppose. Great, thought provoking article.
Thanks Michael as always for your views on life, I benefit from your work to articulate what to me is our humanity. I have spent the better part of the last 35 years focused on learning and sharing with/teaching others my views on communication. The one element I have always emphasized is the need to know our intent which I believe is always present at all times if we're willing to slow down and look. Not that our intent is singular, but in the perhaps multiple intentions there is a hierarchy of importance which is imperative to know if we're going to communicate effectively. I hadn't thought of empathy being used in the way you've described, with an intent to hurt, suppress, or dominate others in some way. Of course it is absolutely true. For me the most important question any of us can wrestle with is whether we think there is a "shared humanity" or not and if so, what is that? For true communication to happen, by my definition (comm - uni - cation - action towards oneness) we must see that common ground and intend to shine a light on it.
I read this post, and my friend Tori Marra's repost on LinkedIn. I look forward to reading the article, my initial thoughts are that you have exposed an uncommonly discussed truth. I see this manipulative empathy most present in some non profit founders. It's wild when you see it, and I have come to see some of them as narcissistic. What once appeared to me as drive, has become questionable. This inconvenient truth is another layer.
Interesting opinion. I read most of the NYT comments and boy, that opinion definitely rattled many. It's interesting to consider that empathy is multi-faceted. In relation to Musk, he's also on the spectrum, which is known to affect one's "empathy" or social interactions with others. I think that affects his overall ability to consider the affective empathic side of his business decisions. He's also a known Ketamine user and possibly other drugs, affecting his overall behavior, there's more at play than just affect of cognitive empathy. Unless, you're saying that those factors can also play a part of either side of empathy. Definite valid points on how "empathy" can be used for control, that's unfortunate and I wonder how we can hold leaders accountable, as stated in your NYT article? Do we tell them to stop? Do we ignore them? Is there an antidote? the billon dollar question I suppose. Great, thought provoking article.
Thanks Michael as always for your views on life, I benefit from your work to articulate what to me is our humanity. I have spent the better part of the last 35 years focused on learning and sharing with/teaching others my views on communication. The one element I have always emphasized is the need to know our intent which I believe is always present at all times if we're willing to slow down and look. Not that our intent is singular, but in the perhaps multiple intentions there is a hierarchy of importance which is imperative to know if we're going to communicate effectively. I hadn't thought of empathy being used in the way you've described, with an intent to hurt, suppress, or dominate others in some way. Of course it is absolutely true. For me the most important question any of us can wrestle with is whether we think there is a "shared humanity" or not and if so, what is that? For true communication to happen, by my definition (comm - uni - cation - action towards oneness) we must see that common ground and intend to shine a light on it.
I read this post, and my friend Tori Marra's repost on LinkedIn. I look forward to reading the article, my initial thoughts are that you have exposed an uncommonly discussed truth. I see this manipulative empathy most present in some non profit founders. It's wild when you see it, and I have come to see some of them as narcissistic. What once appeared to me as drive, has become questionable. This inconvenient truth is another layer.