Mrunal Ethics (E3:P2) : Foundational Values: Empathy, Compassion

Mrunal Ethics (E3/P2): Foundational Values: Empathy, Compassion
25/10/15, 12:42 AM
- Mrunal - http://mrunal.org -
[Ethics] E3/P2: Foundation Values-Empathy & Compassion towards

the Weak + Case studies & Descriptive Questions
Posted ByMrunalOn 09/10/2015 @ 10:00 pm In Ethics | 30 Comments
1. E3/P2: Video Lecture by Kavan Limbasiya (Rank-198/UPSC-14)
2. Value#4: Empathy
1. Why do we need empathy?
2. Empathy in Western Society?
3. Lack of empathy leads to
4. Can we cultivate empathy?
5. Value#5: Compassion towards weaker section
3. How to inculcate Compassion?
1. Case study #1: Marry the rapist for Childs future?
2. Case Study #2: right aptitude for NGO-giri?
3. Descriptive Questions
E3/P2: Video Lecture by Kavan Limbasiya (Rank-198/UPSC-14)

In the first part (E3/P1), we looked at aptitude, integrity and objectivity. Now moving to other important
foundational values viz. Empathy and Compassion
http://mrunal.org/2015/10/ethics-e3p2-foundational-values-empathy-compassion-upsc-case-studies.html/print/
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Youtube Video Link:https://youtu.be/1QkpnIBsIUM
Value#4: Empathy
Man is a rational animal, said Aristotle.
Then man must arrive at decision after evaluating all pros and cons. In Western society this is
evident.
But according to some, man is a social animal, an emotional animal.
He is Homoe empathicus. He takes decisions with emotions.
Empathy is all about emotions:
Sympathy
Empathy
What is the difference?

Your belief and Cognitive aspects. If youre rich and youve sympathy towards the poor.
Then youd know factually- what is meant by poverty?
Has both cognitive and emotional aspects.
You succeed in UPSC after 3-4 attempts, then next time you meet a fresher who
has failed in prelims- You feel the emotion of other person -thats empathy.
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Empathy is stronger attitude than sympathy, hence its better indicator of behavior.
Empathy is the one of the many bases of pro-social behavior and altruism. (if I
give money in charity, to save taxes, then tax-planning is my base for altruism.)
Altruism
Doing good things selflessly, for the well-being of others. It is about action.
You recovered from cancer, and feel pain for other cancer patients, that is
empathy.
Subsequently, if you build a charitable cancer-hospital, that is altruism.
Compassion
Its a form of sympathy. But stronger than empathy.

Strength wise: sympathy << empathy << compassion.
Hence compassion is even better predictor of behavior.
Compassion is what made Mother Teresa leave her motherland and serve
selflessly in in Kolkata.
Empathy means understanding other persons pain / feeling. It can be for everyone
higher or lower than you. But compassion is targeted towards weaker beings.
E.g. youve faced criticism from colleagues despite working with earnest
intension. Then youd have empathy (not compassion) for Rajanbhai, when his
moves are criticized by columnists.
Why do we need empathy?

Indian civil services (ICS) attracted the most intelligent and talented among the British youth, yet
they failed to look after the interest of Indians, Why?
They were intelligent but lacked empathy. and at the same time, the British civil service manual /
code of conduct lacked any directives in that regard.
For ICS officers, public services meant ensuring the administrative, economic and strategic
interest of the empire.
Our bureaucrats have inherited this colonial legacy- hence we must make them emphasize with
the plight of a common man.
Long cut: you teach poverty theory and allied topics to an officer and then expect him to help the
poor.
Short cut: you make him empathize with a poor. Hell automatically try to help the poor, because
empathy will trigger his altruistic behavior.
Empathy helps us understand others emotion, therefore empathy required to increase your
emotional intelligence.
Empathy in Western Society?

Nolan committee doesnt list empathy in its recommendations. Because Western societies
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believe man is a rational animal.

Objectivity and empathy are at times in contradiction. E.g. In doctor will have to give you
injection (short term pain), to cure your disease (long term peace.) But, if a doctor is too
empathetic, his hands will shake while giving injection.
Empathy is targeted towards individual, while objectivity looks @masses. So if judge gives more
weightage to empathy over objectivity, he may give lenient punishment to a criminal. In long
run itll hurt the masses.
Syrian refugees have been flooding Turkey and EU since many months, but only after a child
(Aylan Kurdi) is drowned and images appear in main-stream media, all EU nations have became
attentive. Because empathy of people towards an individual child.
Killing of thousand people is worst than killing one. But if youre empathetic to that one, you
may loose sight of the objectivity. Therefore, in western society / Nolan committee have sidelined
empathy.
Lack of empathy leads to

1. Bullying, ragging, stalking.
2. Intolerance, lack of compassion towards animals, environment, poor, minorities, women and
children
3. With rise of Social media and internet, empathy levels have declined. Because you are not
physically seeing the other person, so you cant feel his body language, gestures, tone of voice etc.
4. Its difficult to abuse a person in real life- because its awkward. But very easy on anonymous
online groups and forums.
5. Monika Lewinsky considers herself the first victim of cyber-bulling. See her TED-talk if youve time.
Can we cultivate empathy?

1. Empathetic officers are the need of hour in modern day administration targeted towards inclusive
growth.
2. Art, literature, cinema- they help us inculcate empathy. E.g. Satyajit Rays Pather Panchali
realistically portrays the poverty and rural India.
3. Common Holiday- Eid, Diwali- people of all religion are given public holidays on these events. It
should encourage them to participate in each others festivals.
4. Right to education Act provides 25% reservation to children from economically weaker section in
the schools. So rich and poor will interact with each other and cultivate empathy for each other.
5. Encourage Perspective talking, role playing games, put yourself in the shoes of other people.
Value#5: Compassion towards weaker section

1. Base of compassion is empathy.
2. Were a divided society- wealthwise, castewise, religionwise.
3. We believe in law of Karma, so if a person is poor or physically disabled, we believe it is the
result of his own karma. Hence compassion required.
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How to inculcate Compassion?

1. Teaching the four noble truths from Buddhism.
2. Loving-kindness meditation youve to think good things about ..
a. People you respect and love.
b. Your beloved persons within family and friend-circle.
c. People for whom youve no love or hatred (neutral people.) e.g. Pan-walla, Chai-walla.
d. People you hate.
3. Above exercise will increase your compassion towards others. Now how to measure it? Ans.
Zurich Prosocial Game.
4. Visit slums, old age home.
5. IAS probationers are sent to Bharat Darshan for similar reason- to understand the diversity of
India and grow compassion towards others.
Case study #1: Marry the rapist for Childs future?

In June 2015, Madras High Court Judge P. Devadass let a convicted rapist out of prison on bail so he
could mediate with his victim and heal their rift. The Judge observed following
victim has become mother of a child, But as on date, she is nobodys wife. So, she is an unwed
mother. Now there is a big question mark looming large before [the victim] as well as her child,
who is completely innocent.
Therefore, mediation was the best option in this case, noting that he had recommended it on
another occasion earlier this year, with the rapist agreeing to marry the victim, a case now heading
toward a happy conclusion.
Answer following:
1. Mediation is normally used to resolve marital or commercial disputes. To what extend can it be
used in violent crimes?
2. In the cases where a child is borne out of rape, what should be the primary objective of the
judiciary- (A) punishment for the rapist or (B) compassion for the child? And why?
Case Study #2: right aptitude for NGO-giri?

Youre running an NGO for the street children. Youve given a recruitment advertisement in the local
newspaper for the post of a Coordinator in your NGO. Following people turn up: Who among them
will you chose for the job? and why?
Candidate
Zafar
Specialty
Says he spent all of his childhood working at a highway dhaba, where he mixed up with
wrong company of friends and began petty theft, smuggling and substance abuse. He was
sent to juvenile home, but an NGO helped him in rehabilitation process, he managed to
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Supari
complete graduation. At present he is working as a chai-walla in a call center but unlike

Dev Patel, he couldnt reach Kaun Banegaa Crorepati therefore as Career backup Plan-B,
he wants to join NGO to help others.
Says he has been associated with local political unit for a decade. He is fedup with politics
but wants to continue social service. He cites his experience in how to deal with pettyKashi
bureaucrats and similar political elements as his plus point. He also claims to have
Trivedi
contacts in the state secretariat to get your NGO more funding for projects for streetchildren.
Retired IPS officer. Says he knows the drug abuse, child-trafficking, forced-begging,
Samar
prostitution and associated network. He can help rescuing street-kids trapped in such
Singh
things and rehabilitate them. He too promises to have contacts in state secretariat go get
more funds released for your NGO.
Recently completed MBA from a premiere institution. Her father is a multi-millionaire
Shanaya hotel-tycoon, but shes compassionate towards the plight of the poor since her childhood
Singhania and wants to do something to help them. She says she can get celebrities for various
activities of your NGO, thereby increase your media exposure and donations flow.
Descriptive Questions
1. To walk among the kings and not lose the common touch- is a kind attitude required from the
civil servants. Elaborate.
2. I call him religious who understands the suffering of others- Gandhi. Discuss.
3. Differentiate between following terms: compassion, empathy, sympathy, and discuss their
importance in public services.
4. Discuss the importance of cinema in inculcating values of empathy and compassion. Suggest three
movies that should be included in the syllabus of school, college and civil service training syllabus
respectively.
5. Examine the factors behind nuisance of ragging in India colleges. What should be done to change
the attitude of seniors towards juniors?
6. Do you agree with following statements? Yes / No and WHY?
a. In the present day materialistic society with cut-throat competition, it is impractical for an
individual to develop empathy towards others. It is the responsibility of the state to look
after the weak and the desolate.
b. There is no correlation between suffering, empathy and good behavior. India has many
politicians who started life in abject-poverty, and amassed wealth by robbing the poor-strata
during their political career.
c. Empathy is a virtue, but it should not be a guiding judicial principle.
In the next part (E3/P3) well look at the last set of foundation values for civil service viz. neutrality and
non-partisanship.
Visit Mrunal.org/Ethics for more study material on Ethics.
Article printed from Mrunal: http://mrunal.org
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Mrunal Ethics (E3/P2): Foundational Values: Empathy, Compassion

[Ethics] E3/P2: Foundation Values-Empathy & Compassion towards

E3/P2: Video Lecture by Kavan Limbasiya (Rank-198/UPSC-14)