Empathy

Nadine El-Enany, David Harradine, null, Danielle Sands

In an age of stark political division and inequality, kindness seems a rare commodity and the failings in our social, moral, and political life are often thought to stem from a lack of empathy. For others, empathy leads to biased decision-making and distracts us from addressing society’s structural problems. But what is empathy? What are its limits? Can there be empathy between humans and other animals? Can our societal and political problems be alleviated without it, or is an ethical life impossible without empathy? Join Nadine El-Enany, David Harradine, and Danielle Sands as they explore the nature of empathy.

Speakers

• Nadine El-Enany, Senior Lecturer in Law, Birkbeck
• David Harradine, Professor of Interdisciplinary Practice, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
• Danielle Sands, Fellow, Forum for Philosophy & Lecturer in Comparative Literature and Thought, RHUL

Chair

• Sarah Fine, Fellow, Forum for Philosophy & Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, King’s College London

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