Empathy as a Common Ground Between Moral Development and Active Citizenship: An Aristotelian Approach
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.57125/FP.2025.03.30.04Keywords:
Empathy, moral development, Aristotle, active citizenship, role of educationAbstract
This article explores the role of empathy as a common ground for the moral development and active citizenship of the individual. References to the history of the concept of empathy and its descriptive definition are presented in a way that facilitates its examination as a human skill—one that can function both as a moral virtue and as a driving force for conscious participation in public life, particularly in the modern era. Aristotelian thought serves as the primary theoretical framework under which empathy, its moral dimension, and its relationship to active citizenship are analyzed. Through the Aristotelian approach, empathy can be understood as the fundamental internal quality of the individual, enabling the development of the necessary sensitivity and appropriate criteria that contribute to their formation as an active citizen. At this juncture, the role of education is deemed crucial, as it can serve both moral development and the shaping of active citizenship through the cultivation of empathy. Ultimately, this article highlights the interconnection between empathy, moral development, citizenship and education as a central issue, especially in the context of the rapid socio-political changes occurring on a global scale.
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