Differentiating Sympathy and Empathy

Sympathy is defined as genuine fellow feeling and compassion, exemplified by biblical references such as Jesus acting as a sympathetic high priest. In contrast, empathy is portrayed as a relativistic approach where individuals are pressured to suppress any critical feelings toward those they empathize with, resulting in a lack of objectivity. The speaker emphasizes that true sympathy involves a readiness to help others while acknowledging their circumstance, even if it includes recognizing their faults, whereas empathy can lead to a shared delusion where the helper immerses themselves in the victim's emotional state. This distortion of empathy is criticized for leading to enabling behavior rather than offering constructive assistance.