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Why Empathy Matters

Girl laying on the ground next to a chalk drawing of herself
Photo by schaaflicht, CC via Flickr
Photo by schaaflicht, CC via Flickr

The philosopher Roman Krznaric has spent years thinking about empathy, and he suggests you forget the idea that it’s some fluffy, feel-good concept. Krznaric argues that empathy is radical and dangerous, because it offers the possibility of real change. He also says it’s not a concept to reserve for the down and out. To really address the world’s empathy deficit, we must equally apply it to our neighbors and to people in power. Wednesday, we’ll talk about our capacity for empathy and why it matters. 

Roman Krznaric is a founding faculty member of the School of Life in London. His new book is called Empathy: Why It Matters, and How to Get It. [Indiebound|Amazon]

Visit Krznari'cs Empathy Library to find more resources, books and film, on empathy.

We're featuring a short animated film that explains the difference between empathy and sympathy. It's called The Power of Empathy and is produced by the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts.

Doug Fabrizio has been reporting for KUER News since 1987, and became News Director in 1993. In 2001, he became host and executive producer of KUER's RadioWest, a one hour conversation/call-in show on KUER 90.1 in Salt Lake City. He has gained a reputation for his thoughtful style. He has interviewed everyone from Isabel Allende to the Dalai Lama, and from Madeleine Albright to Desmond Tutu. His interview skills landed him a spot as a guest host of the national NPR program, "Talk of the Nation." He has won numerous awards for his reporting and for his work with RadioWest and KUED's Utah NOW from such organizations as the Society of Professional Journalists, the Utah Broadcasters Association, the Public Radio News Directors Association and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.