this post was submitted on 24 Jun 2026
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Threats and promises are your guiding principles? (discuss.online)
submitted 18 hours ago by VetOfTheSeas@discuss.online to c/atheism@lemmy.world
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[–] Kalothar@lemmy.ca 10 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago) (1 children)

Doctor Viktor Frankl and the entire field of logo therapy would disagree with you. Part of our entire motivation for life is finding meaning, empathy is one of the more basic ways we help ourselves find that meaning. Evolutionarily speaking altruism is pretty beneficial for members of a social species such as us.

Most humans are naturally empathetic, and it’s such a core feature that nothing can strip that away from them

[–] givesomefucks@lemmy.world -4 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5513638/

That's actual science...

What you're talking about is a new age religion:

https://viktorfranklamerica.com/what-is-logotherapy/

And you say "neuroscientist" because that sounds modern, but guy was in his late 30s during WW2, neuroscience was barely a thing back then.

No one cares about quack cults.

[–] Kalothar@lemmy.ca 5 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Can you give more fucks and in the right direction?

The concept of empathy was first introduced by aestheticians in the mid-19th century. They used the German word “Einfühlung” to describe the emotional “knowing” of a work of art from within, by feeling an emotional resonance with the work of art.

Just because the concept was talked about as Empathy in the 19th century by some German scientists doesn’t mean shit about the actual concepts integration in our species.

Sliced bread also wasn’t sold in stores until the 20th century, but people were slicing bread long long before that.

From your article:

In the past, empathy was considered an inborn trait that could not be taught, but research has shown that this vital human competency is mutable and can be taught to health-care providers

I never said anything about the ability to develop or not develop empathy later in life. I said it’s mostly a natural trait. There are many reason for prosocial behaviors, and it’s mailability varies from nature to nurture.

ThIs Is ReAl ScIeNcE:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4685523/#RSTB20150077C14

The man had a doctorate from the University of Vienna, and was a practicing psychiatrist for several years before WW2. Look up his work at Steinhof Psychiatric Hosptial in the years prior to World War II. He saw thousands of patients in a clinical setting, and continue on the form theories. I don’t care about your opinions of his field or not.

I never referred to him as a neuroscientist, and I didn’t disagree that empathy could be also taught in some way.

So have fun making up imaginary arguments to try and defeat.

[–] givesomefucks@lemmy.world -4 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Can you give more fucks

Nope, best of luck.

and was a practicing psychiatrist for several years before WW2.

Lmao, exactly.

They didn't know what the fuck they were doing back then.

Enjoy the newfound religion though, weird choice to choose this community to spread it.

[–] Kalothar@lemmy.ca 1 points 15 hours ago

Fair enough buddy, good luck to you and your general outlook