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EDITH STEIN

Edith Stein's philosophy of empathy emphasizes the importance of understanding others as unique individuals and internalizing their emotions, which fosters deeper connections and social harmony. She highlights the challenges of empathizing with those from different backgrounds while advocating for its necessity in creating inclusive communities. Stein's life experiences, including her persecution as a Jewish convert, further underscore her commitment to empathy and its transformative power in society.

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13 views

EDITH STEIN

Edith Stein's philosophy of empathy emphasizes the importance of understanding others as unique individuals and internalizing their emotions, which fosters deeper connections and social harmony. She highlights the challenges of empathizing with those from different backgrounds while advocating for its necessity in creating inclusive communities. Stein's life experiences, including her persecution as a Jewish convert, further underscore her commitment to empathy and its transformative power in society.

Uploaded by

Kyle Asong
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Kyle Cydrick Asong February 28, 2023

Seminary on Contemporary Philosophy Edith Steins’ Philosophy of Empathy

EDITH STEIN: I “EMPATHY” YOU (PUTTING ONESELF TO SOMEONE ELSE SHOES)


One of the key themes in Stein's work on empathy is the importance of
understanding others as unique individuals, rather than simply as objects or extensions of
ourselves. She argues that true empathy involves a deep appreciation of the other person's
perspective, feelings, and experiences. This requires an active effort on the part of the
empathizer, who must be willing to put aside their own preconceptions and biases in order
to truly understand the other, on a simple sense, “putting oneself to someone else shoes.”
Unlike sympathy (which seeks to support from a “distance”), empathy requires a deeper
connection with the other person-one in which the other person’s emotions are actually
internalized and understood from within. Empathy helps a person in crisis to feel
understood and connected to the other person. It also helps provide a safe and trusting
environment for the other person, as well as lays the foundation for good rapport.
Moreso, Stein’s philosophy of empathy was an opening of a new perspective about
how I would feel and connect with the others. It is not just merely an air that is breathed,
but a new course of how I would understand and put myself into other people shoes. It is
true, that I may not be able to fully empathize them, that there will always be a gap of how
they truly feel, that their shoes may not fit to mine, but in end, it doesn’t change the fact
that I, myself, understand and feel also how they feel. With that, empathy can also be
challenging at times, particularly when we encounter people whose experiences are vastly
different from ours. It can be difficult to understand and relate to someone who comes
from a different culture, background, or perspective. However, it is crucial to strive for
empathy even in such situations, as it helps to create a more inclusive and harmonious
society.
The time that most stands out in my mind for when I provided someone with
empathy is when my little cousin who got bullied in school and came home very upset.
While his parents were trying to be understanding and comforting, it was clear to me that
they were not very empathic. They said things like, “sorry,” and “you just need to ignore
them.” It appeared to me that they had never themselves experienced such a problem and
were having some difficulty putting themselves in his shoes. It is not to say that you
necessarily have to have the same exact experience as someone else in order to have
empathy, but I think that at some level, it can be quite helpful. Personally, I was bullied
quite a bit when transfer schools because I think that kids sometimes have difficulty on
making sense of things that are different from them. In reaction to this confusion (and
maybe because it felt uncomfortable), kids often made disparaging remarks regarding my
appearance or my accent. Most of the time I could just ignore it and go about my day, but
sometimes it would hurt my feelings.
As such, when I saw that my cousin was going through the same situation as I had, I
immediately felt empathy towards him. I took him aside and shared my story with him,
which was shocking to him because I had never talked about it before. It was clear that he
was comforted in knowing that he was not alone and that I knew exactly where he was
coming from. I also tried to shy away from giving him advice or judging him in any way. I
merely wanted him to feel safe and understood because I figured that once I established
Kyle Cydrick Asong February 28, 2023
Seminary on Contemporary Philosophy Edith Steins’ Philosophy of Empathy

this with him, then he would be more likely to follow any advice. It felt really good to see
that I was able to help “pay forward” some of the empathy that I had receivedD in my past.

Philosophical Ideas (Influence)


Proponents
Importance and Implication in Education

Stein also emphasizes the importance of empathy in promoting social harmony and
understanding. By understanding others' experiences and perspectives, we can develop
greater respect for their needs and values. This can lead to more compassionate and
inclusive communities, where individuals feel valued and supported. In similarity to the
context of seminary formation, empathy is also one of the crucial aspects of understanding
one another sufferings and experiences in communion. It is indeed that in the seminary,
one’s action isn’t just limited to itself, but it also affects the community, that is why,
empathy is not only a mere of putting oneself shoes to another but a
Likewise, despite her deep commitment to empathy, Stein's own life was marked by
intense suffering and persecution. As a Jewish convert to Catholicism, she faced
discrimination and violence from the Nazi regime. She ultimately died in a concentration
camp, alongside many other victims of the Holocaust. Despite this, Stein remained
committed to her faith and her belief in the power of empathy to transform society.
In addition to her work on empathy, Stein is also known for her contributions to
feminist philosophy and Catholic theology. She argued that women had a unique role to
play in society and the church, and advocated for greater recognition of their contributions.
She also explored the relationship between faith and reason, arguing that the two were
complementary rather than mutually exclusive.
Overall, Edith Stein's work on empathy remains an important contribution to the
field of philosophy, psychology, and phenomenology. Her commitment to understanding
Kyle Cydrick Asong February 28, 2023
Seminary on Contemporary Philosophy Edith Steins’ Philosophy of Empathy

others as unique individuals, and to promoting social harmony and understanding, remains
as relevant today as it was during her lifetime

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