Empathy is generally defined as the identification with, and understanding of another person’s situation, feelings and motives. While empathy and sympathy are two closely related notions, I believe that the subtle difference between them can be found in the idea of “identification.” For, while sympathy says “I understand how you feel and commiserate with you,” empathy goes a step further and says “I feel what you feel.” Such an ability to project oneself into another’s experience can only be rooted in a love for humanity. Continue Reading »