Empathy in the Digital Age

How do the internet and media influence empathy? In this event empathy will be understood as the co-experience of the situation of the other. One could say: The situation and emotions of the other become the medium of my experience. In this sense, empathy requires mediation, raising the question which forms of mediation have which effects. Recent research has presented data about a dramatic decrease of empathy among social-media using college students. Other authors, however, suggest that game playing and virtual reality might provide an excellent basis for empathy. Underlying this debate is the assumption that empathy is usually good.

In response to the recent data and these discussions, Fritz Breithaupt from IU Bloomington, will provide a short history of empathy as mediation and discuss the good and bad aspects of empathy in the digital age. In his comments, Jan Slaby from Freie Universität Berlin will voice some concerns about empathy as a basis for sociality and morality in general and reflect on how social media might amplify these problems - notably the bias towards in-group, close or well-known others. The audience will have the opportunity to engage in the discussion during the subsequent Q&A session moderated by Millicent Churcher.

The Freie Universität Berlin-Indiana University joint speaker series aims at bringing together scholars from both institutions to discuss current topics of global politics, stir scientific dialogue and research initiatives and trigger public debate.

Invitation PDF

Location:
Indiana University Europe Gateway
CIEE Global Institute
Gneisenaustraße 27
10961 Berlin

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