How empathetic do you think you are?

Not nearly enough, and it is hugely important. I think the problem is, the heart is deceptive, so it's easy for pride to masquerade as empathy.

it's not until you're called on to put someone else before you at great personal cost and no reward that you find out your true capacity for empathy.

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it's not until you're called on to put someone else before you

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that's not empathy, is it? i thought empathy was just the ability to recognize/identify emotions others are experiencing

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i thought empathy was just the ability to recognize/identify emotions others are experiencing

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i guess some of us require a more genuine connection to identify and recognize fully.

well even in a purely genuine level. you can feel bad for a person's situation without "putting them ahead" of you

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wouldn't having a genuine connection make it sympathy?

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sure. give it a name.

eta, but since we're wiki'ing:

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The English word is derived from the Ancient Greek word ?µp??e?a (empatheia), "physical affection, passion, partiality" which comes from ?? (en), "in, at" + p???? (pathos), "passion" or "suffering"

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You really are not a fully developed human being unless you have a substantial and reasonable amount of empathy.

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”

“When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.”
? Ernest Hemingway

“I call him religious who understands the suffering of others.”
? Mahatma Gandhi

“I believe empathy is the most essential quality of civilization.”
? Roger Ebert

i feel sorry for the OP's mother

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i feel sorry for the OP's mother

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i empathize with her, but only to the level of SFP's definition, and not my more demanding one.

yeah i always though empathy was identifying and understanding emotions of others. i do that like a boss

the 2nd question can't be answered until we define empathy!

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to answer the question I think the ability to recognize another's plight, i.e. empathize, is very important. I also think it is not an innate skill

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whatever definitions we're using, i think for this emotion to be meaningful/productive in any way, it must involve more than just feeling bad for someone/thing. i feel bad for the roach i squash in the kitchen, and i don't want to be squashed myself, but that doesn't keep me from destroying the MF'er every time.