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How unique is our ability to feel the pain, fear, and intentions of others?
Empathy is the remarkable ability to perceive the thoughts, intentions, and emotions of other individuals. In human relations, empathy binds us together in interpersonal and social relations. It organizes our social behaviors, is the foundation of our commitment to justice, sparks selfless acts of altruism and heroism, and can be lifesaving by alerting us to danger when witnessing fear in others.
Impaired empathy, on the other hand, corrupts civilized behavior and can result in psychopathology, violent crime, and war. The horrific succession of mass murders of innocent people in the United States is unimaginable for anyone with a normal sense of empathy. Indeed, of all human attributes, empathy is widely considered one of the noblest, and is often seen as a defining characteristic of human beings. But how unique is our species in our ability to feel the pain, fear, and intentions of others?
Can Animals Experience Empathy?
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