Empathy and Human Rights

Year 2023, Volume: 28 Issue: 4, 443 - 454, 31.10.2023

Yunus Düger

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate whether empathy plays a role in developing and securing human rights. In other words, can the concept of empathy be a guide in seeing points that may be dangerous for human rights, both in theory and in practice, and at the same time in intervening in these violations? Is empathy a prerequisite for this? For example, does being against inhumane treatments such as torture, discrimination, and genocide that others are subjected to depend on that person's ability to empathize both in thought and in practice? Or can one reach the epistemic basis of basic human rights and freedoms independently of empathic feelings? This study briefly aims to find answers to these questions. In this context, the basis of the study is based on qualitative research methods. Empathic emotion can pave the way for humanitarian aid by providing individual feelings such as immediate intervention, helping, and solidarity in emergencies that may occur after some natural disasters or some human rights violations. However, the view defended in the study is that the idea of human rights cannot be reduced to emotions such as empathy.

Keywords

Empathy, Human Rights, Ethics, Morality

Empati ve İnsan Hakları

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı empatinin insan haklarının geliştirilmesinde ve güvence altına alınmasında bir rol oynayıp oynamadığını değerlendirmektir. Başka bir deyişle, empati kavramı hem teoride hem de pratikte insan hakları açısından tehlikeli olabilecek noktaları görmede ve bu ihlallere müdahale etmede yol gösterici olabilir mi? Empati bunun için bir ön koşul mudur? Örneğin başkalarının maruz kaldığı işkence, ayrımcılık, soykırım gibi insanlık dışı muamelelere karşı çıkmak, o kişinin hem düşüncede hem de uygulamada empati yeteneğine sahip olmasına mı bağlıdır? Yoksa temel insan hak ve özgürlüklerinin epistemik temellerine empatik duygulardan bağımsız olarak ulaşılabilir mi? Bu çalışma kısaca bu sorulara cevap bulmayı amaçlamaktadır. Bu bağlamda çalışmanın temeli nitel araştırma yöntemlerine dayanmaktadır. Empatik duygu, bazı doğal afetler ya da bazı insan hakları ihlalleri sonrasında oluşabilecek acil durumlarda anında müdahale, yardım etme, dayanışma gibi bireysel duyguların ortaya çıkmasını sağlayarak insani yardımın önünü açabilir. Ancak çalışmada savunulan görüş, insan hakları düşüncesinin empati gibi duygulara indirgenemeyeceği yönündedir.

Keywords

Empati, İnsan Hakları, Etik, Ahlak

Ethical Statement

Makale kendime ait çalışmadır, hiçbir şekilde intihal yapmadığımı, intihalden kaynaklanan tüm sorumluluğun bana ait olduğunu ve bu konuda derginin hiçbir sorumluluğunun olmadığını beyan ederim.

Supporting Institution

Yok

Thanks

Yok

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