Moral Backbone, Empathy, Affinity, Good Will

[Papoon]

Moral backbone, empathy, affinity, good will.

Regardless of any religious, political, spiritual or scientific view or belief, or absence of such view or belief - those behavioural qualities are certain markers of awareness and insight, in my opinion.

I know there is plenty of room for interpretation of each of those terms.

Do you feel that a person who more or less continuously displays those qualities is displaying the best a human can be ?

Do those qualities indicate a person who understands the essence of whatever religion or philosophy you follow or view you endorse ?

 

[Taylor Seraphim]

Moral backbone, empathy, affinity, good will.

Regardless of any religious, political, spiritual or scientific view or belief, or absence of such view or belief - those behavioural qualities are certain markers of awareness and insight, in my opinion.

I know there is plenty of room for interpretation of each of those terms.

Do you feel that a person who more or less continuously displays those qualities is displaying the best a human can be ?

Do those qualities indicate a person who understands the essence of whatever religion or philosophy you follow or view you endorse ?

I think that humans who logically examine themselves will find that these qualities are the best to exhibit for a constructive life.

 

[bobhikes]

Moral backbone, empathy, affinity, good will.

Regardless of any religious, political, spiritual or scientific view or belief, or absence of such view or belief - those behavioural qualities are certain markers of awareness and insight, in my opinion.

I know there is plenty of room for interpretation of each of those terms.

Do you feel that a person who more or less continuously displays those qualities is displaying the best a human can be ?

Do those qualities indicate a person who understands the essence of whatever religion or philosophy you follow or view you endorse ?

I feel all that is useless unless you are open to others ideas and beliefs. Closed people will use them as a weapon of good, as in I'm doing it for there own good.

 

[George-ananda]

Moral backbone, empathy, affinity, good will.

Regardless of any religious, political, spiritual or scientific view or belief, or absence of such view or belief - those behavioural qualities are certain markers of awareness and insight, in my opinion.

I know there is plenty of room for interpretation of each of those terms.

Do you feel that a person who more or less continuously displays those qualities is displaying the best a human can be ?

Do those qualities indicate a person who understands the essence of whatever religion or philosophy you follow or view you endorse ?

Yes, I think these qualities follow from all good religions and philosophies and is part of their essence. I believe the quality of our hearts and minds is more important than our beliefs on metaphysical issues.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I think things like "empathy" are highly over-rated. There are a number of disorders that weaken one's ability for empathy, to varying degrees. But even the "empathy impaired" are capable of living good lives that most would consider "moral."
And don't forget, things like affinity can result in associating with bad groups and people.
Moral Backbone? What is that? Good will? Towards whom and what?
Really, I think the only thing necessary for being a "good person" is to understand our actions have consequences, to understand those consequences, and choosing outcomes that result in "good" being done. "Morality" is just too subjective a term to rely on.

 

[Papoon]

I feel all that is useless unless you are open to others ideas and beliefs.

Empathy and affinity imply that to me.

Empathy is a sense of feeling what others feel, and affinity is a positive sense of connectedness. At least that is what I take as their meanings, in simple terms.
It would seem contradictory to me to have affinity and empathy, and yet to not be open to someone else's beliefs or ideas.

 

[jeager106]

One good definition of empathy:

• em·pa·thy1
  /ˈempəTHē/
  
  
  noun: the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

This works for me with a further caveat.
I feel empathy is sincere only when the person showing empathy has walked
in the shoes of a sufferer.

Sympathy is: the perception, understanding, and reaction to the distress or need of another human being.

Empathy (to me) requires knowing the pain of another.
For instance when a loved one is injured or dies the person suffering the same
injury can feel what the sufferer feels.
"Been there done that" kind of situation.

If I know a person that has a broken bone and I've suffered a similar injury
I can empathize.
If I haven't suffered a similar injury I can sympathize.
Make sense?

 

[bobhikes]

Empathy and affinity imply that to me.

Empathy is a sense of feeling what others feel, and affinity is a positive sense of connectedness. At least that is what I take as their meanings, in simple terms.
It would seem contradictory to me to have affinity and empathy, and yet to not be open to someone else's beliefs or ideas.

Empathy, Sympathy and Affinity apply to our feelings towards another. You have a sense of empathy. Do they? You a projecting affinity. Are they? To truly help someone we need them to share their experience and needs with us not their feeling. Unless we understand their life we will be projecting our lives on to them.

An example I heard on a talk show and never thought of.
People are constantly donating shoes and clothes to the poorest regions of Africa even computers now. There is even a shoe company that donates 1 pair for every pair we buy.
Problem is the people that make clothes and shoe's in Africa don't have a market to sell to or can't make a profit because of all the free stuff.
The money would better go to help grow retail in poorest regions Africa. Pay the Africans to make the shirt's and shoe's locally

Same with local food pantry. For 10 dollars they can get cases of fresh food vs the canned and boxed we give. They'll take the food because it is better than nothing but they can purchase at a discount so for the same value in money they can get far more food. The food will also be bought that the people want, not the food we don't want.

Shared emotions or positive feelings are not enough to actually be the best human. Listening, comprehending and then sharing what will benefit others is what is needed. At times a tough emotionless stance may actually be what is needed.