Bestselling author, political adviser and social and ethical prophet Jeremy Rifkin investigates the evolution of empathy and the profound ways that it has shaped our development and our society.
This struck me as intense & profound – never mind that the animation is wickedly cool – but the entire “lecture” plunged me into some heavy thought cycles… i think i’ll need to watch it a few times to really grasp it all. One of the great things about living in this time – video! i CAN watch it over and over and GET it… instead of semi-getting it from my lousy notes trying to listen and write at the same time.
The question posed by Jeremy Rifkin is: “Is is possible we could extend our empathy to the entire human race – as an extended family- and our fellow creatures as part of our evolutionary family, and to the biosphere as our common community? If it’s POSSIBLE to imagine that and maybe save our species and our planet. If it’s IMPOSSIBLE to imagine that, then I don’t see how we’re gonna make it.”
What do YOU think about this concept of empathy as our means to survival? Does empathy equal sowing peace? or does sowing peace equal empathy? How do we get there from here?
Discuss!