tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14162253.post7974692445660409624..comments2024-03-28T18:57:15.124-06:00Comments on Wash Park Prophet: Evil As An Empathy DeficitAndrew Oh-Willekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537151821869153861noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14162253.post-87169454130633206442011-05-06T05:44:03.691-06:002011-05-06T05:44:03.691-06:00I'd argue that the bank software developer isn...I'd argue that the bank software developer isn't evil. Nor is the guy who shoots somone in a bar in a fit of drunken rage. Nor are a lot of people who do bad things. Evil is the exception.andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08172964121659914379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14162253.post-61924690248222514452011-05-05T23:29:20.142-06:002011-05-05T23:29:20.142-06:00Your blog post title "Evil As An Empathy Defi...Your blog post title "Evil As An Empathy Deficit" implies all evil could be explained as an empathy deficit but I don't know that that is what those authors were trying to assert.<br /><br />Take the example of bank software developer skimming half-pennies from every transaction. It's evil, but the effect is so diffuse that not much lack of empathy is required. Yet, it is still an evil act -- at least theologically speaking, but perhaps not colloquially if we take a Hollywood/Halloween definition of "evil".<br /><br />Of course, the converse is also false as well, as the author himself mentioned (by way of discussing substituting behaviors) -- namely, lack of empathy doesn't necessarily lead to evil. For example, a calculating emotionless person could aim for personal gain by way of cooperation rather than, say, violent competition.Michael Malakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10007582156392845677noreply@blogger.com