Sketching the Radius of Empathy and Keeping Yourself Centered

How do Kingos define empathy? The notion of empathy is obscure and differs between scholars, making it complicated to describe. Its definition can be extremely personal, depending on whether one prioritizes cognitive or emotional empathy. For some, empathy is best explained in spatial terms, while others view it as a temporal concept. To begin with, spatial empathy, as outlined in The Radius of Empathy written by Gachon University chair-professor Jang Dae-ik, stems from the idea that empathy radiates from oneself to family, friends, and others. Here, one’s radius of empathy varies depending on one’s race, nationality, gender, and religion. The broader the radius of empathy is, the more one can relate to circumstances that are not directly related to oneself. Meanwhile, temporal empathy transcends the present. It can be in the form of empathizing with the pain of war, slavery, and genocide from previous generations or trying to protect the environment and improve the state of the world for a better future. Ultimately, empathy is a profoundly intriguing concept that bridges individuals to society, either across space or time.

The average individual’s radius and time span of empathy vary from era to era. The current generation, in particular, is showing a tendency toward a smaller radius and shorter time span. Although modern individuals may briefly feel sorrow when witnessing wars in other countries through the news, they quickly move on with their busy daily lives, reflecting a narrow radius of empathy. Meanwhile, temporal empathy, particularly toward one’s past or future self, is also lacking. For example, even with an assignment due the next day, some may struggle to empathize with the stress their future self will experience. As such, they instead pursue immediate delight and short-term gratification by watching Netflix, relaxing, or endlessly scrolling through Instagram. Seeing that the current generation faces difficulty empathizing with others, let alone oneself, it is natural that several situations inevitably lead to greater conflict.

Here, Kingos may consider a simple perspective: showing empathy for oneself ultimately results in empathy for others. According to neuroscientist Doctor Jang Dong-sun, the brain’s insula plays a crucial role in self-awareness and emotional processing, which helps in recognizing one’s current state. As such, when individuals can notice and comprehend themselves better, their degree of understanding toward others also deepens. Indeed, one should begin with empathizing with and loving oneself first. However, loving oneself does not mean unconditional narcissism. Instead, it can take the form of simple actions such as exercising for one’s health, preparing a nutritious meal, or taking sufficient rest at the end of the day. This attitude gives a sense of confidence that one can control one’s life, creating a positive cycle of self-love. With growing affection toward one’s life, the realization that others’ lives are just as valuable follows, fostering consideration and respect. Kingos, if such an idea ripples and becomes the foundation for forming true connections, would not society’s empathy radius and time span enlarge, making the world a warmer and more empathetic place to live in?