Outside Reading 1 Empathy and Environmentalism - Natalie Hinderliter

 Over the course of this semester, my honors class has been focused on discussions of empathy and its influence or lack thereof on 'evil' behaviors, specifically in the book The Science of Evil: On Empathy and the Origins of Cruelty by Simon Baron-Cohen. The first portion of the book is dedicated to the idea of empathy erosion. Baron-Cohen defines this as a gradual reduction of empathy, often resulting from viewing other beings as objects or from being caught up in an 'I' method of thinking that puts oneself before everything else. This concept certainly holds value when applied to environmental studies. It is clear that over past decades there has been significant empathy erosion in terms of environmental respect. Many ancient cultures and religions held ultimate respect for the environment, but the concept of putting conservation at the forefront of culture has fallen by the wayside. Based on my readings, it is possible for some semblance of empathy towards others and one's surroundings to be restored after empathy erosion. It is my belief that this should be incorporated in environmental education to rekindle people's passion for environmental protection. By appealing to people's emotions and their passions through activism and education, the concept of conservation becomes more inspiring and motivational. 

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