Abstract

Empathy is a native character trait consisting of a disposition to imitative physical/emotional activation in response to the perceived situational context and/or expressive behavior of another. It is often involuntary; hence, a tendency to respond empathically does not provide a sufficient reason to attribute benevolence or a global prosocial motivation. Sociobiological literature is consulted in search of a primitive connection between empathy, helping behavior and altruism. Hume's thesis is affirmed, that empathy contributed to the origin of morality. In early form, moral language served chiefly to express empathically-induced emotion and influence behavior. Adam Smith's use of empathy as a guide to moral decision-making cannot be sustained, due to the idiosyncrasy and selectivity of empathic responsiveness. Empathy is of great value, though, as a cue to moral concern and possible intervention; as such, empathy should be vigorously developed and encouraged in moral education programs