Will the Good of the Other

Empathy, when elevated to a supreme value, threatens the foundations of truth, justice, and love, leading to societal decline. While empathy involves sharing the emotions of others, it often prioritizes avoiding hurt feelings over objective moral goods. This shift, prevalent in modern ideologies derived from critical theory, rejects objective truth in favor of subjective sentimentality. In contrast, true love—defined as willing the good of the other—frequently necessitates actions that may cause temporary pain, such as academic correction or parental discipline. By replacing the biblical mandate of love with the primacy of empathy, society risks losing the moral framework necessary for stability. Ultimately, fulfilling the law requires the hard-edged, demanding nature of love rather than the mere avoidance of discomfort, as love remains the essential, objective center of a healthy moral life.