Adam Smith, the author of The Wealth of Nations, believed that “empathy is an intellectual activity that takes into account circumstances, motives, luck, social status, and human character of the person.” The moment we blame another person’s actions, we examine the appropriateness of those actions. Adequacy is a state of neither excess nor understatement. If everyone else thinks a person is bad but I advocate for that person by saying, “I can understand,” then I approve of their actions. This situation is called “mutual sympathy.” In our lives, we can be egocentric in some cases and relation-centric in others. The more mutual sympathy exists, the more relationship-oriented our thinking becomes. Both too much and too little can lead to tiredness or dissatisfaction. Pursuing happiness means finding this adequacy. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
A Korean AI company developed a language-learning AI for a 5-year-old, splitting it into two systems: one displaying only children’s videos and the other showcasing YouTube videos. After two months of learning, the company was eager to assess the results. They found that children using YouTube, with fewer restrictions, had better language-learning outcomes than those who watched only children’s videos. This raised a thought in me: parents’ efforts to protect their children from certain influences may stem from an unreasonable desire. Striving for perfection can feel woefully inadequate in this world. Isn’t the essence of education about equipping individuals with the knowledge of right and wrong and guiding them to maintain their humanity? - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”