Nicholas Kristof: How do we increase Empathy?
Speaker: Nicholas Kristof, a well educated, well traveled, journalist who also has a law degree from Oxford University.
Occasion: An article in response to those scolding him for being empathetic for his deceased friend, Kevin.
Audience: Those scolding his for supporting Kevin and anyone who wants to become more empathetic.
Purpose: To figure out how to increase empathy.
Subject: Empathy, and how we can increase it in society today.
Tone: Curious and thirsty for knowledge on what causes empathy and how we can increase it.
In Kristof's article, "How do we Increase Empathy?" we see that Kristof writes in response to several responses on Kristof's last article, "Where's the Empathy", that said that Kevin's problems were his own doing. Right from the beginning Kristof assumes that you read his last piece regarding his deceased friend Kevan. The author then continues the piece by discussing what traits that attract more empathy, such as having a bigger head or being cute. Kristof provides these statements with credibility as well by showing that the speaker of these statements is a "Harvard psychologist". Once done discussing what traits generate the most empathy, Kristof delves into how we can create a more empathetic society in general. The author again uses statements from credible college professors when describing how empathy can be increased, giving the article even more credibility. At the end of the article, Kristof ends on a philosophical note by closing with, "Above all, let’s remember that compassion and rationality are not effete markers of weakness, but signs of civilization". This leaves the reader in a thoughtful state and makes the reader wonder if they could be ore empathetic. This is an important topic to Kristof as he believes that his friend would have possibly lived a longer, better life if there was more empathy in the world. This is also an important topic to consider as a community as so often we opt to go the easy way instead of helping our fellow man.
Occasion: An article in response to those scolding him for being empathetic for his deceased friend, Kevin.
Audience: Those scolding his for supporting Kevin and anyone who wants to become more empathetic.
Purpose: To figure out how to increase empathy.
Subject: Empathy, and how we can increase it in society today.
Tone: Curious and thirsty for knowledge on what causes empathy and how we can increase it.
In Kristof's article, "How do we Increase Empathy?" we see that Kristof writes in response to several responses on Kristof's last article, "Where's the Empathy", that said that Kevin's problems were his own doing. Right from the beginning Kristof assumes that you read his last piece regarding his deceased friend Kevan. The author then continues the piece by discussing what traits that attract more empathy, such as having a bigger head or being cute. Kristof provides these statements with credibility as well by showing that the speaker of these statements is a "Harvard psychologist". Once done discussing what traits generate the most empathy, Kristof delves into how we can create a more empathetic society in general. The author again uses statements from credible college professors when describing how empathy can be increased, giving the article even more credibility. At the end of the article, Kristof ends on a philosophical note by closing with, "Above all, let’s remember that compassion and rationality are not effete markers of weakness, but signs of civilization". This leaves the reader in a thoughtful state and makes the reader wonder if they could be ore empathetic. This is an important topic to Kristof as he believes that his friend would have possibly lived a longer, better life if there was more empathy in the world. This is also an important topic to consider as a community as so often we opt to go the easy way instead of helping our fellow man.