FYS 066 Do You Feel My Pain?

Empathy is the capacity to "walk in others' shoes," to experience, feel and view the world from the perspective of those whose values, culture, and embodied identity might be quite different from one's own. But does strengthening our empathetic abilities always lead to a more just and compassionate view and treatment of those different from ourselves? Or can the cultivation of empathy sometimes increase in-group bias and animosity towards the Other? These and other questions about empathy will be explored through activities ranging from analysis of art and scholarship from a variety of disciplines to the creation of exhibits for an Empathy Museum.

Instructor

Byrd