From Empathy to Empathies. Towards a Paradigm Change
Abstract
Abstract: Today’s debate on empathy is characterized by an interplay between neuroscience, philosophy of mind and phenomenology that has led to several distinct definitions of empathy (enlarged, restricted, minimalist). Much of the difficulty in defining empathy is due to the emphasis on its prosocial value, a feature that has made it a “keyword” of our time. Does the role empathy has been assigned in social interactions imply its involvement in matters of identity, similarity and affective resonance? What happens when the flow of sensations and emotions between humans produces more complex interactions and gives rise to feelings of estrangement, facing the unknown, or a fear of others? We need a paradigm shift in which we consider empathy in practice, rather than theory. We need to consider how various empathies arise in different contexts and manifest in diverse ways. In this way, we can shed light on the limits and failures of mutual comprehension, and arrive at a more radical and realistic vision of the great challenge involved in relating to others.
Keywords: Empathy; Phenomenological Approach; Intersubjectivity; Neuroscience; Otherness
Dall’empatia alle empatie. Verso un mutamento di paradigma
Riassunto: Il dibattito attuale sull’empatia è caratterizzato da uno scambio particolarmente vivo tra neuroscienze, filosofia della mente e fenomenologia. Da un esame dei numerosi contributi che hanno tentato di rispondere alla domanda “che cos’è l’empatia?” proponendo varie definizioni (allargata, ristretta, minimalista) risulta chiaro che la difficoltà di fondo dell’intero dibattito consiste nel fare i conti con il valore prosociale dell’empatia, l’aspetto che ne ha fatto una parola chiave del nostro tempo. Per esplicare il ruolo che le viene assegnato nelle interazioni sociali l’empatia deve implicare somiglianza e corrispondenza affettiva? Che cosa accade quando il flusso di sensazioni e di emozioni tra esseri umani genera movimenti più complessi, in cui emergono l’estraneità, l’ignoto, la paura dell’altro? È necessario cambiare paradigma e considerare l’empatia non in teoria, ma in pratica. E guardare alle empatie, i cui contesti e differenti manifestazioni mettono in luce limiti e fallimenti, che forniscono una visione più radicale e realistica della grande scommessa delle relazioni con gli altri.
Parole chiave: Empatia; Approccio fenomenologico; Intersoggettività; Neuroscienza; Alterità
Parole chiave
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PDFRiferimenti bibliografici
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.4453/rifp.2018.0001
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