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Empathy in the Theater of Horror, or Civilizing the Human Heart

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Empathy and its Limits

Abstract

In our times, and particularly among Europeans, there seems to be a general consensus that people should be treated with dignity. Dignity has become a crucial political concept and a rallying cry that has been able to mobilize large numbers of citizens. The use of what is perceived as humiliating language or practice encounters sharp criticism. Forms of punishment, state-imposed or other, that appear to infringe on human dignity are not accepted by popular opinion. This includes shame sanctions administered by the US legal system, as much as physical and emotional cruelty, not solely but especially when displayed in public. European citizens are appalled by practices in countries such as China, Saudi-Arabia, Iran, or Afghanistan, where executions (abolished in EU member states) are deliberately and intentionally carried out in public in order to attract large groups of spectators. Terrorist Islamic groups that proudly record the decapitation of hostages and invite the world to watch provoke loathing and aversion.

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Notes

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Authors
  1. Ute Frevert
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Konstanz, Germany

    Aleida Assmann  & Ines Detmers  & 

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© 2016 Ute Frevert

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Frevert, U. (2016). Empathy in the Theater of Horror, or Civilizing the Human Heart. In: Assmann, A., Detmers, I. (eds) Empathy and its Limits. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137552372_5

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