Empathy and morality: the psychological and philosophical dimensions of a complex relationship

Abstract

For some empathy is “the center of the moral universe”, while for others it plays a secondary role or, in any case, ethically unreliable. Attending to its philosophical precursors such as Hume and Smith, and its contemporary researchers in the field of psychology, as Hoffman and Batson, this article develops a balanced defense of the role of empathy in moral motivation, development and judgment, recognizing its limitations.

Keywords

• empatía
• adopción de perspectiva
• David Hume
• Martin L. Hoffman
• parcialidad/ imparcialidad
• egoísmo/altruismo.