-- On Empathy and Postmodern Cats To talk about Empathy lets talk about cats and Mirror Neurons. Theres a bit of flesh in a mammals brain that forces us to see ourselves through each others eyes, and feel each others emotions. (In most situations between people and animals, the feelings of animals are not a concern, so I make the distinction here between animals and pets.) The connection between pets and people are pleasurable feelings. --- Threshold for Empathy Empathy is a reflection of compassion in society, which in this context is anyone around you, including pets. Empathy has a range to it. Some people have more empathy and are less bigoted than others in society, and Some people have more empathy towards animals, are more connected to their pets than others. In both cases, the difference between a strong compassionate bond, and a weak bond shows a contrast. Theres a threshold where compassion gets to a level where ones own interests arent a concern, it becomes self-interest to be compassionate. People follow their hearts in order to keep feeling good. Thats how compassion works. When you have it, you feel good about having it. --- I Love Cats. I see myself in their eyes. Thats the Mirror Neurons doing there thing. That connects to my self-identity through compassion. I take so much pleasure in the relationship, I need to be their protector for my own benefit. Its that the cuteness, and the swag, and the vulnerability of their lives is a part of my life. I couldnt imagine living without that pleasure. The term emergence means more than the sum of our parts. By having cats around, I become more than I would be without them. Theres a cultural aspect of emergence to my relationship that started because it made sense for people to seek compassionate bonds with other mammals. Evolution put compassion there. We cant deny it, and must find ways in which to satisfy it, and so we do. With cats we get compassion, but we also get a lot of style. I treat my cats with by best attempt at equality. I do that for my own benefit, and it works out for both of us. --- Do I love humanity? I want humanity to connect better. I see that the people directing our culture are doing their best to prevent equality from being the norm. I see lots of room for improvement in my own lifetime, and certainly see the theoretic potential for a future peaceful world. I remember connecting to the love in the crowds at protests, and imagining that we could spread the solidarity everywhere. I know that equality grows only in crowds like that. I know the present-day working-class owes its quality of life to the spirit of such crowds throughout history. I know that the exhilaration of people directed by compassion is the spirit that brings us toward a harmonious future. I know evolution directed my emotional temperament, in that compassion is there for survival. When the idea of a subjugated person on the other side of the world, or the sight of a homeless cat provokes bad feelings, does it make sense to deny I am directed by compassion? In that light, does it make sense to not love humanity? ~t
Posted on: Sat, 05 Jul 2014 07:10:49 +0000
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