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”
Before the high level of civilization, human life was tribal. However human beings were needed for the large-scale labor force for industrialization, so people were gathering in the cities for a living. That was the detribalization. These days when we are developed by social media, people are used to selectively make a relationship with those who have similar philosophies and preferences. Rather, the new media makes the retribalization in different meanings. Therefore, now human relationships are becoming more important the interests and preferences. When choosing to make a relationship, people gather according to their preferences. Communication is narrower and more easily ostracized. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”