Eh, I think it’s possible that worms do have feelings. But even if they don’t, my mind is able to trick me into having empathy for them in a way which it doesn’t for video game characters. Are worms like people? shrugs I’m not arguing whether they are or aren’t. All I can say for sure is that something about them triggers my protective and benevolent instincts, and I have chosen to lean into that instead of rationalizing it away.
As for ‘type of place’, I guess what I mean is that I want the world to have more people with bountiful empathy. And I can’t very well be optimistic about achieving that if I don’t practice it myself. It’s not a utilitarian view; it’s an admittedly non-rationalized desire. It’s also very true that practicing empathy in this way makes me feel good about myself. I don’t know if I am looking for a little dopamine hit, or if it’s just in my nature to care about critters, but it makes me feel like a good person.
Thank you for pressing me on this to get me to do some introspection.
Eh, I think it’s possible that worms do have feelings. But even if they don’t, my mind is able to trick me into having empathy for them in a way which it doesn’t for video game characters. Are worms like people? shrugs I’m not arguing whether they are or aren’t. All I can say for sure is that something about them triggers my protective and benevolent instincts, and I have chosen to lean into that instead of rationalizing it away.
As for ‘type of place’, I guess what I mean is that I want the world to have more people with bountiful empathy. And I can’t very well be optimistic about achieving that if I don’t practice it myself. It’s not a utilitarian view; it’s an admittedly non-rationalized desire. It’s also very true that practicing empathy in this way makes me feel good about myself. I don’t know if I am looking for a little dopamine hit, or if it’s just in my nature to care about critters, but it makes me feel like a good person.
Thank you for pressing me on this to get me to do some introspection.