Cognitive Empathy: More functional theatre?

Is cognitive empathy moral? Indicative of one’s humanity? Or is it a sloppy substitute slotted in with other Jenga blocks in an attempt to hold hierarchical society, together?

Yet again, I find myself wondering about cognitive empathy; from depedestalizing it to questioning if the entire idea is colonial shit. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Resources & Notes:

Preference for hierarchy is associated with reduced empathy and increased counter-empathy towards others, especially out-group targets.

Clubhouse: Empathy: Save the Species

How Emotions Are Made by Lisa Feldman Barrett

Édouard Glissant’s The Right to Opacity

An Immense World by Ed Yong