this post was submitted on 19 Mar 2025

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Musk is Wrong. Empathy is Not a Weakness. (www.ipsnews.net)

submitted 2 weeks ago by Mee@reddthat.com to c/politics@lemmy.world

27 comments fedilink hide all child comments

“The fundamental weakness is empathy,” Musk recently told radio podcast host Joe Rogan. “There is a bug, which is the empathy response.”

As Musk has established himself as at least the second most powerful person in an administration seeking a wholesale remaking of institutions, rules and norms, what he said matters, because it encapsulates a political plan. What the Project 2025 report set out in over 900 turgid pages, Musk’s remark captures in a simple pithy mantra for the social media age.

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[–] throbbing_banjo@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

For those of you who haven't yet, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with Curtis Yarvin's "Dark Enlightenment Theory," because that's what's informing all of these chuds.

JD Vance has cited this guy. Peter Thiel is a huge fan. Based on his views, Musk is almost certainly reading this stuff.

The "theory" basically boils down to that tenet: empathy is weakness, might makes right, and it's only natural for the strong to dominate and brutalize the weak.

Remember that kid in elementary school who refused to play with anyone at recess and just spent the whole time frying ants with a magnifying glass? That kid grew up and has an "intellectual following" now.

[–] MuskyMelon@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

The lack of empathy, however, has been linked to psychopathy by study after study after study.

[–] mimavox@lemm.ee 1 points 2 weeks ago

Yep. They can't even comprehend the notion.

[–] Gladaed@feddit.org 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Wasn't it the other way around? Psychopathy is the inability to empathy.

[–] BananaTrifleViolin@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

No, as a lack of empathy isn't the only defining characteristic of psychopathy. There is also a lack of remorse, disinhibition, and egocentrism amongst other traits.

A lack of empathy alone doesn't make someone a psychopath. For example some people on the autistic spectrum can exhibit a lack of empathy but are not psychopaths. (Should be noted a lack of empathy is not a defining feature of autism - its variable and a lot of people on the autistic spectrum do have empathy).

So its true to say a lack of empathy is a feature of psychopathy but not true to say that psychopathy is the inability to be empathetic.

[–] Gladaed@feddit.org 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Are there empathy possessing psychopaths?

[–] meyotch@slrpnk.net 1 points 2 weeks ago

No, I think another way to say it is that lack of empathy is a necessary, but not sufficient, criterion for it.

[–] Gurei@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 weeks ago

Empathy is one of the foundational blocks of the society he abuses.

[–] kittenzrulz123@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Empathy is strength, love is strength, unity is strength, solidarity is strength, divided we may fall but as one united working class we can stand forever.

While we stand together they tear eachother apart and in their disunity we the workers shall have our revolution. For they are weak and we are strong, they produce nothing and we create all of the value.

[–] glitchdx@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Empathy is a skill and he doesn't have it.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 0 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

It's a useful skill if you're trying to cultivate a popular following. The funny thing is that he used to have it and was quite good at feeling people out for a popular vibe. Now he's too ketted out to feel anything. Just a rolling ball of Id, bouncing between hungry, cranky, and horny.

[–] tigeruppercut@lemmy.zip 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I wonder if he was ever good at it, or if before he got a pass on being a weird guy because his goals seemed positive (save the planet, push tech forward). Now that he's fixated on manosphere/nazi shit, more people are less willing to overlook his idiosyncrasies.

[–] Hazor@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Some such people are really good at pretending to have empathy. I used to be with a narcissist who was a nurse. She could put on a good face, but in actuality she just got off on the sense of power over people who needed her help. In areas where being an awful person didn't threaten her job security, she had zero qualms about hurting or taking advantage of others, and she did so without hesitation when she felt it would benefit her.

[–] exonode@lemm.ee 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Empathy is an ability not a skill. It's not a mundane tool to get what you want.

[–] glitchdx@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

you're right, it's not a tool to get what you want

it's a tool to not be a horrible person

[–] futatorius@lemm.ee 1 points 2 weeks ago

Believing empathy is a weakness is a symptom of psychopathy.

[–] Clinicallydepressedpoochie@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

[–] explodicle@sh.itjust.works -1 points 2 weeks ago

Wow such virtue signaling /s

[–] ArchmageAzor@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

Empathy is a weakness for sociopaths, and only sociopaths can be billionaires. So it's not a universal weakness, but it is a weakness for him.

[–] Showroom7561@lemmy.ca 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

You know who lacks empathy? Psychopaths.

This paper says this about it:

Importantly, empathy is such an essential component of healthy human social interactions that absence of it may lead to severe social and cognitive dysfunctions. A personality structure often marked by a lack of empathy is psychopathic personality.

Musk is once again pretending to know about things he's clueless about.

[–] sik0fewl@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Lack of empathy is how I characterize Republicans or conservatives in general. It explains every single one of their policy position.

[–] Ledericas@lemm.ee 1 points 2 weeks ago

there also very good at pretending to have empathy, which is another key trait. hence why we seen "so many people" become super right wing as time goes on.

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Fuck Joe Rogan for letting him say shit like that unchecked.

[–] el_muerte@lemm.ee 1 points 2 weeks ago

Fuck Joe Rogan, period.

[–] Sylvartas@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 weeks ago

I mean, who's surprised ? Joe Rogan isn't even a yes man. Dude appears to be physically incapable of exercising critical thinking.

[–] Wilco@lemm.ee 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Musk: "The fundamental weakness is empathy" Also Musk: "Why are people so mean to me"

[–] Tail11@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Oxy, meet moron.