There were many big ideas in this chapter; I took note of all of them, but it did get a little fuzzy at times. For example, I always thought that in order to empathize with someone (Facet:5) you would have had to experience similar situations. The Oxford American Dictionary states that empathy is, "The power of identifying oneself mentally with(and so fully comprehending with) a person or object of contemplation". In UbD says something similar to the definition, but adds that, "Empathy requires respect for people different from ourselves. Our respect for them causes us to be open-minded, to carefully consider their views when those views are different from ours. (p. 99).
I think I understand what is being said, but it empathy the best word to describe this idea? I'm not sure they go hand-in-hand, and if so, can someone explain this to me?
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2 comments:
Hmmm..... interesting question. For me, if I look at the "identifying oneself mentally with," it doesn't necessarily mean I have to have experienced the same situation as someone else, but I need to be able to imagine what their experience might have been like. Does it help if I have experienced the same thing? Obviously, but I don't think it is always necessary to have empathy for someone. I think the important thing is asking what might be going on for that person and trying to imagine their situation, which may or may not be similar to my own. What do you think?
A few years ago I was told that if you experience a similar situation as someone else, then you can empathize; so I never bothered to look up the definition myself...oops. Now zooming in on the "identifying oneself mentally" what you said does make sense. Thanks.
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