Misconceptions about sympathy and empathy

[the joint]

I have news.

If you think empathy is walking a mile in another man's shoes, check this:

'Sympathy' = prefix 'sym' + root word 'pathy'. 'Sym' is an alternative to 'syn' meaning "together"; 'pathy' refers to 'disease' or 'not at ease'.

Hmmm...

"Together, not at ease"...now what does that sound like?!

With me so far?  Good.

In contrast, 'empathy' = prefix 'emp' + root word 'pathy'. 'Emp', while specifically reserved for root words beginning with certain letters, is an alternative to 'ent' which is an "inseparable verb prefix indicating removing something from the object."

And there you have it -- 'sympathy' is walking a mile in another man's shoes, and 'empathy' is stealing his damn shoes!

[dank]

If you let others define the meaning in your life you relinquish your own purpose in life to the hands of another man.

[bl4kjaguar]

The root is closer to the word pathos, meaning appeal to emotions.

[meadefreling]

If you let others define the meaning in your life you relinquish your own purpose in life to the hands of another man.

Well said Sir, well said." your destiny is your hands" simple.

[the joint]

If you let others define the meaning in your life you relinquish your own purpose in life to the hands of another man.

You realize the OP is a joke, right?

[the joint]

The root is closer to the word pathos, meaning appeal to emotions.

I think it's basically the same thing, it's just a specific derivative.  Think "pathology."

[bl4kjaguar]

The root is closer to the word pathos, meaning appeal to emotions.

I think it's basically the same thing, it's just a specific derivative.  Think "pathology."

Emotions are not a type of illness; they are one of the best guides we have.

Could you be more explicit about the word-associations you are making?

[Daniel91]

I find this article very interesting.
What is the difference between empathy and sympathy?
Both empathy and sympathy are feelings concerning other people. Sympathy is literally 'feeling with' - compassion for or commiseration with another person. Empathy, by contrast, is literally 'feeling into' - the ability to project one's personality into another person and more fully understand that person. Sympathy derives from Latin and Greek words meaning 'having a fellow feeling'. The term empathy originated in psychology (translation of a German term, c. 1903) and has now come to mean the ability to imagine or project oneself into another person's position and experience all the sensations involved in that position. You feel empathy when you've "been there", and sympathy when you haven't. Examples: We felt sympathy for the team members who tried hard but were not appreciated. / We felt empathy for children with asthma because their parents won't remove pets from the household.
Source: http://dictionary.reference.com/help/faq/language/d23.html

[the joint]

The root is closer to the word pathos, meaning appeal to emotions.

I think it's basically the same thing, it's just a specific derivative.  Think "pathology."

Emotions are not a type of illness; they are one of the best guides we have.

No, but the 'pathy' in sympathy and empathy is referring to a more specific derivation of a more general concept of feeling, I.e. some form of suffering or disease.

http://i.word.com/idictionary/-pathy

[the joint]

I find this article very interesting.
What is the difference between empathy and sympathy?
Both empathy and sympathy are feelings concerning other people. Sympathy is literally 'feeling with' - compassion for or commiseration with another person. Empathy, by contrast, is literally 'feeling into' - the ability to project one's personality into another person and more fully understand that person. Sympathy derives from Latin and Greek words meaning 'having a fellow feeling'. The term empathy originated in psychology (translation of a German term, c. 1903) and has now come to mean the ability to imagine or project oneself into another person's position and experience all the sensations involved in that position. You feel empathy when you've "been there", and sympathy when you haven't. Examples: We felt sympathy for the team members who tried hard but were not appreciated. / We felt empathy for children with asthma because their parents won't remove pets from the household.
Source: http://dictionary.reference.com/help/faq/language/d23.html

I think the article is slightly inaccurate.  To me, based on the etymology the difference between sympathy and empathy is *very* subtle, with the key difference being that, in addition to sharing similar emotional states, empathy is conveyed with an intention to help alleviate the other person from suffering.  This intention is not conveyed through sympathy.

[dank]

If you let others define the meaning in your life you relinquish your own purpose in life to the hands of another man.

You realize the OP is a joke, right?

Had to post the wisdom when it came to mind.