Whats the difference between empathy and pity?
Empathy, which literally translates as in feeling, is the capability to share another being’s emotions and feelings. Figurally speaking, putting myself in their shoes or wearing their sunshades may allow me to share some of their feelings or see it similarly as they do, whether it’s their passion or their suffering. Pity evokes a tender or sometimes slightly contemptuous sorrow or empathy for people, a person, or an animal in misery, pain, or distress. In regard to humans, a protective or quasi-paternal feeling of pity may be felt towards marginalized or impoverished people such as homeless families; orphans; people with disabilities or terminal illness, and victims of rape and torture. Yes, pity can evokes a tender or sometimes slightly contemptuous empathy for a person. Example of the difference between empathy and pity: I can empathize about a loved one’s passion that in which has nothing to do with pity.
