Defining Empathy in the Context of the Empathy Circle #2
Speaker: Edwin Rutsch (15 min)

Otter.ai - 2025-04-05 - Edwin Rutsch

Transcript

https://otter.ai/u/8BDJ0NxPRV8kva2hZEWmzKaBm1g?view=summary

Edwin Rutsch, founder of the Empathy Center, discussed the importance of empathy in fostering stronger relationships, conflict resolution, and social cohesion. He highlighted recent criticisms of empathy, such as "Against Empathy" and "Toxic Empathy," and proposed a clear, practical definition of empathy within the context of the Empathy Circle. Rutsch introduced a four-faceted model: basic empathy, self-empathy, imaginative empathy, and Wholistic Smpathy. He emphasized the need for a concrete understanding of empathy to build a movement promoting mutual empathy as a primary cultural value.

Action Items

• [ ] Ground the definitions of empathy in the empathy circle practice.

• [ ] Address the criticisms of empathy by mapping them onto the empathy circle experience.

• [ ] Contact Edwin Rutsch to be part of the study group working on this project.

Outline

Introduction and Purpose of the Empathy Summit

• Janna Weiss introduces Edwin Rutsch, the founding director of the Empathy Center and developer of the Empathy Circle practice.

• Edwin Rutsch thanks Janna and the volunteers for organizing the summit and begins his presentation on the foundational practice of the Empathy Movement.

• Edwin emphasizes the vision of making mutual empathy a primary personal and cultural value, especially in the current social and political climate.

• The presentation aims to define empathy in the context of the Empathy Circle and address criticisms of empathy.

Defining Empathy and Its Benefits

• Edwin Rutsch discusses the importance of clear definitions of empathy and mentions ongoing projects to define and promote empathy.

• He lists the benefits of empathy, including stronger relationships, better conflict resolution, improved teamwork, effective leadership, and increased social cohesion.

• Edwin shares his personal journey of discovering the value of empathy 15 years ago and his dedication to promoting it.

• He expresses hope that the Empathy Movement will have a significant impact on political and social culture.

Criticisms of Empathy

• Edwin Rutsch mentions recent criticisms of empathy, including the book "Against Empathy" and others like "Suicidal Empathy" and "Toxic Empathy."

• He highlights criticisms from various political and academic perspectives, such as the idea that empathy can fuel revenge or lead to a loss of truth.

• Edwin notes that many criticisms come from the political right, with examples from prominent figures like Elon Musk and Joe Rigney.

• He discusses the confusion and lack of consensus around the definition of empathy, especially within the academic community.

Empathy Circle and Wholistic Empathy

• Edwin Rutsch introduces the Empathy Circle as a practical process for defining and experiencing empathy.

• He proposes a model of Wholistic  empathy with four facets: basic empathy, self empathy, imaginative empathy, and Wholistic empathy.

• Edwin explains the basic practice of the Empathy Circle, involving a speaker, an active listener, and silent listeners.

• He emphasizes the importance of defining empathy in a practical and concrete way, using the Empathy Circle as a framework.

Components of Wholistic Empathy

• Edwin Rutsch describes basic empathy as the listener sensing into the speaker's experience and reflecting back their understanding.

• He explains self empathy as feeling into one's own experience with a sense of connection and acceptance.

• Imaginative empathy involves taking on roles or imagining experiences, as exemplified by Meryl Streep's work.

• Wholistic empathy refers to a mutual empathic relationship within a community, creating a culture of empathy.

Addressing Criticisms and Next Steps

• Edwin Rutsch suggests grounding definitions and criticisms of empathy in the context of the Empathy Circle.

• He encourages participants to map criticisms onto the Empathy Circle to see if they fit within the scope of empathy.

• Edwin invites interested individuals to join the Empathy Circle study group working on defining empathy.

• He concludes the presentation by thanking the participants and expressing his commitment to building the Empathy Movement.