I loved reading your take on this issue. You are so right. Empathy is a bug in the system because it’s a bug in Elons system. It counteracts the goal of unchecked wealth at all costs, and a return to “masculine” ways of aggression and domination of others. The reality is aggression and domination are effective at creating wealth in the short term and terrible at creating wealth in the long. Using empathy to make decisions like using wealth to reduce hunger may not do good for today’s stock price but will build steadily into that stock price over a long period as more people are brought into the marketplace. A rising tide lifts all boats. Therefore, empathy can produce wealth too.
Harvard philosopher Michael Sandel coined the perfect term for what's happening in our increasingly stratified society: "skyboxification." It describes the phenomenon where the wealthy isolate themselves from the rest of society in climate-controlled luxury boxes high above the common seats at ballparks.
As Sandel notes, "At a time of rising inequality, the marketization of everything means that people of affluence and people of modest means lead increasingly separate lives. We live and work and shop and play in different places. Our children go to different schools."
This separation isn't accidental. It's deliberate insulation from the lived experiences of others. When the ultra-wealthy like Musk create these distance-keeping bubbles—private jets, gated communities, exclusive schools, concierge healthcare, and yes, actual skyboxes—they're doing more than just enjoying luxury. They're systematically removing themselves from the shared experiences that cultivate empathy.
Thanks for the thoughtful response, Linda. Skyboxification is indeed an accurate description of the phenomenon, equivalent to looking down on people and claiming "Let them eat cake." It's easier to disavow empathy when you don't have to see the people who are suffering...or even see them as human, a literal subclass. That's the noise being pushed by the Billionaire boys club. They are special. Everyone else is riff-raff.
I truly believe empathy for others is far bigger than politics. You are either a good person who truly cares about others, or you’re not. No judgment, but I can see these types of people from a mile away.
Just now walking through an airport that was closed for the evening, I saw an elderly couple sitting on a bench with their heads buried in their laps. My colleagues just walked by, I couldn’t resist the urge to stop and ask if they were OK. Out of my whole crew, I’m the only one who felt the desire to help these people. I think you’re either born with it or you’re not.
Totally agreed, here. It's all horrifying, to say the least - but at the same time, at least the lack of ethics and basic humanity is all out in the open these days with the new guard. I heard a psychologist say recently that you can't become a billionaire if you have empathy; you basically have to be diagnosablly Antisocial (aka "a sociopath"). And these are the people we keep electing. 🥺
Thanks, Doc! I appreciate the feedback. The anti-empathy movement has apparently been a thing in right-wing discourse for some time. Musk's comment was the first time I'd heard it, though. And now through Rogan, I guess it's become mainstream. Smh
Great piece! I appreciate the discussion of these points. As you mentioned, sometimes we need to “turn the volume down.” As a highly empathetic person, I’ve had to learn how to regulate energy more effectively—emotional intelligence and boundaries didn’t come naturally to me. I had to first understand them and then implement them to better manage both incoming energy and my emotional responses.
Regarding Musk’s perspective on humanity and the expansion of life into space, you’re absolutely right about his approach to empathy and human values—I couldn’t agree more. It seems his goal is less about preserving and sharing the best of humanity and more about colonization and control.
Here, here! I would agree that a lack of empathy, not empathy itself, is the problem.
Unfortunately, neither Musk nor Trump have developed this important human component. (We can discuss the clinical reasons for this at another time.) Thus we are left with a pair of people who now share many things including a desire for power and wealth. They do not care about other people except to the extent others can help them expand one or the other, or both.
As social workers, we are empathic for a living! The benefits are extraordinary and familiar to us from years of interactions aw we watch people grow, individually, collectively, organizationally and communally. Thanks for your time to expand on the value of empathy, Jeff. You've managed to capture its importance in our messed up world, AND include the word Kryptonite in your message! Maybe a first for Substack, but imagine the Scrabble score you'd get!
Thanks for the thoughtful response, MJW. We’ll never change Trump, Musk, and others of their ilk. But we also can’t tolerate these behaviors, actions, and attitudes amongst those who are in power (I won’t call them “leaders” anymore).
We also need to reach the people who have been seduced by their dishonest, divisive, and cruel rhetoric. I continue to believe change is needed in our political system and in many of our government process. Corruption and fraud DOES exist, but not in the ways those in power are professing. More importantly, the way they are going about creating change is not only harmful, it’s entirely wrong.
My hope is that enough people will be inspired by my message to rally around it, spread it, and bring change to their areas of influence. In this way the spirit of democracy and justice for all people can prevail over despotism.
For sure M is going to ridicule empathy. He doesnt really understand it himself (he seems to display traits of narcissism) and it gets in the way of his agenda. But unforunately for him it is hardwired into the human psyche.
Wow, you are the early bird today, but fortunately lack of sleep led to some ‘effective’ thinking. Good job. The idol musk should be following is Warren Buffett rather than the extortionist-in-chief. Covey’s 8th habit applies here, after 7, he made a wrong turn. Instead of a chain saw his symbols should be a hammer and nail, a carpenter’s square, a trowel and a bucket of mortar.
Thanks, Walter. I was up until 3:30 am tweaking things here and there (and landing on the Kryptonite analogy), plus working on another essay about charity that will publish this Wednesday. But the bulk of today’s essay has been ready since mid-last week. I just can’t stop working on this project. It’s quickly become my passion.
I loved reading your take on this issue. You are so right. Empathy is a bug in the system because it’s a bug in Elons system. It counteracts the goal of unchecked wealth at all costs, and a return to “masculine” ways of aggression and domination of others. The reality is aggression and domination are effective at creating wealth in the short term and terrible at creating wealth in the long. Using empathy to make decisions like using wealth to reduce hunger may not do good for today’s stock price but will build steadily into that stock price over a long period as more people are brought into the marketplace. A rising tide lifts all boats. Therefore, empathy can produce wealth too.
Thanks for the feedback! We can be so much better than these schmucks want us to be
Harvard philosopher Michael Sandel coined the perfect term for what's happening in our increasingly stratified society: "skyboxification." It describes the phenomenon where the wealthy isolate themselves from the rest of society in climate-controlled luxury boxes high above the common seats at ballparks.
As Sandel notes, "At a time of rising inequality, the marketization of everything means that people of affluence and people of modest means lead increasingly separate lives. We live and work and shop and play in different places. Our children go to different schools."
This separation isn't accidental. It's deliberate insulation from the lived experiences of others. When the ultra-wealthy like Musk create these distance-keeping bubbles—private jets, gated communities, exclusive schools, concierge healthcare, and yes, actual skyboxes—they're doing more than just enjoying luxury. They're systematically removing themselves from the shared experiences that cultivate empathy.
Thanks for the thoughtful response, Linda. Skyboxification is indeed an accurate description of the phenomenon, equivalent to looking down on people and claiming "Let them eat cake." It's easier to disavow empathy when you don't have to see the people who are suffering...or even see them as human, a literal subclass. That's the noise being pushed by the Billionaire boys club. They are special. Everyone else is riff-raff.
I truly believe empathy for others is far bigger than politics. You are either a good person who truly cares about others, or you’re not. No judgment, but I can see these types of people from a mile away.
Just now walking through an airport that was closed for the evening, I saw an elderly couple sitting on a bench with their heads buried in their laps. My colleagues just walked by, I couldn’t resist the urge to stop and ask if they were OK. Out of my whole crew, I’m the only one who felt the desire to help these people. I think you’re either born with it or you’re not.
Just be nice !
Totally agreed, here. It's all horrifying, to say the least - but at the same time, at least the lack of ethics and basic humanity is all out in the open these days with the new guard. I heard a psychologist say recently that you can't become a billionaire if you have empathy; you basically have to be diagnosablly Antisocial (aka "a sociopath"). And these are the people we keep electing. 🥺
Great essay. I had heard that evangelicals were suddenly decrying empathy, but had not heard the Rogan interview. Now it all makes sense.
Thanks, Doc! I appreciate the feedback. The anti-empathy movement has apparently been a thing in right-wing discourse for some time. Musk's comment was the first time I'd heard it, though. And now through Rogan, I guess it's become mainstream. Smh
Wow. Absolutely deplorable.
Great piece! I appreciate the discussion of these points. As you mentioned, sometimes we need to “turn the volume down.” As a highly empathetic person, I’ve had to learn how to regulate energy more effectively—emotional intelligence and boundaries didn’t come naturally to me. I had to first understand them and then implement them to better manage both incoming energy and my emotional responses.
Regarding Musk’s perspective on humanity and the expansion of life into space, you’re absolutely right about his approach to empathy and human values—I couldn’t agree more. It seems his goal is less about preserving and sharing the best of humanity and more about colonization and control.
Here, here! I would agree that a lack of empathy, not empathy itself, is the problem.
Unfortunately, neither Musk nor Trump have developed this important human component. (We can discuss the clinical reasons for this at another time.) Thus we are left with a pair of people who now share many things including a desire for power and wealth. They do not care about other people except to the extent others can help them expand one or the other, or both.
As social workers, we are empathic for a living! The benefits are extraordinary and familiar to us from years of interactions aw we watch people grow, individually, collectively, organizationally and communally. Thanks for your time to expand on the value of empathy, Jeff. You've managed to capture its importance in our messed up world, AND include the word Kryptonite in your message! Maybe a first for Substack, but imagine the Scrabble score you'd get!
Thanks for the thoughtful response, MJW. We’ll never change Trump, Musk, and others of their ilk. But we also can’t tolerate these behaviors, actions, and attitudes amongst those who are in power (I won’t call them “leaders” anymore).
We also need to reach the people who have been seduced by their dishonest, divisive, and cruel rhetoric. I continue to believe change is needed in our political system and in many of our government process. Corruption and fraud DOES exist, but not in the ways those in power are professing. More importantly, the way they are going about creating change is not only harmful, it’s entirely wrong.
My hope is that enough people will be inspired by my message to rally around it, spread it, and bring change to their areas of influence. In this way the spirit of democracy and justice for all people can prevail over despotism.
For sure M is going to ridicule empathy. He doesnt really understand it himself (he seems to display traits of narcissism) and it gets in the way of his agenda. But unforunately for him it is hardwired into the human psyche.
Wow, you are the early bird today, but fortunately lack of sleep led to some ‘effective’ thinking. Good job. The idol musk should be following is Warren Buffett rather than the extortionist-in-chief. Covey’s 8th habit applies here, after 7, he made a wrong turn. Instead of a chain saw his symbols should be a hammer and nail, a carpenter’s square, a trowel and a bucket of mortar.
Thanks, Walter. I was up until 3:30 am tweaking things here and there (and landing on the Kryptonite analogy), plus working on another essay about charity that will publish this Wednesday. But the bulk of today’s essay has been ready since mid-last week. I just can’t stop working on this project. It’s quickly become my passion.