Episode 459 - The War on Empathy and Vertical Imagination in the Soul

Oct 29, 2025

The discussion explores the rise of vertical morality that prioritizes obedience over empathy, critiquing how this mindset fosters division and alienation. Michael Meade contrasts this with vertical imagination, a powerful concept that reconnects us to feelings and collective healing. He dives into the long-term effects of historical dualism on our perception of empathy and calls for a revival of the soul's role as a unifying force. The conversation ultimately emphasizes the importance of balancing ascent and descent to foster deeper connections and renew compassion in troubled times.

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INSIGHT

Vertical Morality Undermines Empathy

Vertical morality judges actions by obedience to a higher power rather than compassion for others.
Michael Meade links this doctrine to rising political authoritarianism and a growing 'war on empathy.'

INSIGHT

Horizontal Morality Centers Neighborly Care

Horizontal morality focuses on caring for neighbors and community well-being rather than strict obedience.
Meade warns that privileging vertical over horizontal morality leads to demonizing outsiders and excusing cruelty in politics.

INSIGHT

Soul As The Unifying Third

The soul functions as a unifying third between opposing forces, preventing polarizing dualities.
Meade traces the loss of this 'third' to historical theological and philosophical shifts that created destructive splits.

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This episode begins by examining the rise of "vertical morality" that appears in both Christian communities and conservative politics and has given rise to a "war on empathy." Whereas Jesus famously preached love, mercy and care for the oppressed, vertical morality measures righteousness, not by goodness to others, but rather by something more simplistic and more divisive.

Vertical morality declares that human behaviors are right or wrong based upon what the higher power says. As proponents put it: "Our ethics and behaviors have a duty to please God alone. We must obey by furthering the will of God, no matter the cost to other people." In a religious context, the higher power is God, in politics, it can become an authoritarian leader. As this viewpoint desensitizes people, true believers can justify demonizing all immigrants as criminals, defaming gay and trans people as predators, and condemning political opponents as, not just wrong, but evil.

In direct contrast to vertical morality, Michael Meade proposes vertical imagination as a mostly lost quality of the human soul that would reconnect us to the heights of inspiration, but also keep us connected to the depths of genuine feeling. For the issue is not simply making a steady ascent on the ladder of morality. Rather, the point is for the soul to fully awaken to the process of ascent and descent that keeps Heaven and Earth connected, while it also connects us to the suffering souls of other people and to the all-embracing Soul of the World.

When oriented from the deep sense of self and soul within us, our choices can become truly meaningful and our experiences genuinely unifying, rather than be divisive and traumatizing. In extraordinary times the soul expects to find extraordinary and enlivening experiences, not some final salvation based upon the ladders of morality, but rather many little redemptions found in moments when Heaven and Earth, the eternal and the time bound meet in the wisdom of our waking souls and merciful hearts.

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