How are writing and empathy similar?
When a person writes they might be following instructions or free writing. Empathy is putting yourself into someone else’s position and understanding how they feel. Writing and empathy can be similar because to write about something you might have to connect yourself to a concept to better understand it. In writing and making connections with your own experiences you might have empathy to further explain your ideas to the reader.
What is the value of empathy?
The value of empathy is that in order to solve real world issues we have to understand them. Without empathy, no one would feel like they have to come up with solutions to problems. If a person can’t understand a problem, they won’t know how to fix it. One example of the value of empathy is providing institutions for people who have mental illnesses and diseases. There are people who go to school to study and learn about these illnesses. They become educated to provide different help such as counseling. Without their knowledge they might not feel like they have to provide help for these people who suffer every day.
1 reply on “Writing and Empathy”
Hi Karina! What a cool way to show the intersection between education, empathy, and writing. You’re right; we do go to school to learn new ways to help folks with illnesses, and we only do this because we understand their specific experiences. Your paragraph on empathy is focused and clear because of this specific example. I was a little uncertain of the connection being made in your first paragraph. You talk about free writing and instructions and then talk about empathy– how are the two connected?
I’m looking forward to hearing from you this semester!