Edward Gibbon: 'Our sympathy is cold to the relation of distant misery.'

Our sympathy is cold to the relation of distant misery.

In his quote, Edward Gibbon captures a rather disheartening characteristic of human nature: our tendency to feel less sympathy towards those who are experiencing suffering or misery in distant places. This observation highlights a fundamental limitation of our empathy – its tendency to dwindle when confronted with the unfamiliar. While this phenomenon may seem bleak, it opens the door to an intriguing philosophical concept called "moral proximity" that invites us to reflect upon our ethical responsibilities towards those who may be far removed from our immediate surroundings.Gibbon's quote reminds us that when faced with news of distress or anguish happening far away, we often struggle to connect with these situations on an emotional level. It is as if our sympathy, our ability to deeply understand and share the feelings of others, requires a physical proximity to be fully activated. This raises an important question: why is this the case? Why do we find it more challenging to empathize with the suffering of individuals we have never met or lands we have never visited?At first, this lack of empathy towards distant misery may seem troubling. After all, shouldn't our capacity for compassion extend beyond geographical boundaries? Shouldn't we feel compelled to help, even if it is in a distant and unfamiliar context? However, this phenomenon may be rooted in a survival instinct that has been deeply ingrained within us throughout evolution. Our brains are wired to prioritize the survival and well-being of the individuals closest to us – our family, friends, and community. This inclination towards proximity likely stems from our primitive need to protect those nearest to us from immediate threats, such as predators or rival tribes. In this context, it becomes easier to understand why our sympathy might be cold to distant misery, as our natural instincts are wired to focus on survival within our immediate surroundings.Nevertheless, the concept of moral proximity suggests that this instinctual bias does not absolve us of our moral responsibilities towards those who are geographically distant. Moral proximity challenges us to transcend the boundaries created by our physical existence and recognize a wider circle of ethical consideration. It urges us to reflect on our interconnectedness as human beings and to redefine the limits of compassion.By acknowledging moral proximity, we can understand that despite the physical distance, our actions and choices have consequences that ripple out well beyond our immediate surroundings. The suffering and misery experienced by others, no matter how far away, are not isolated events that exist in a vacuum, but rather interconnected threads in the intricate fabric of our shared humanity. In a world that is increasingly interconnected through technology and global challenges, it becomes essential to expand our moral horizons beyond geographical boundaries.Importantly, cultivating moral proximity does not require us to ignore the needs of those closer to us. It is not a zero-sum game where we must choose between helping our immediate community or those in distant lands. Instead, it is an invitation to find a balance, to recognize that compassion is not a finite resource but an expanding force that can encompass both the local and the global.In conclusion, Edward Gibbon's quote serves as a poignant reminder of our tendency to be less sympathetic towards distant misery, shedding light on the limitations of our empathy. However, this recognition also opens the door to the concept of moral proximity, challenging us to expand our ethical considerations beyond the confines of physical proximity. By embracing moral proximity, we can bridge the gap between our instinctual biases and our ethical responsibilities, prompting us to act with compassion not only towards our immediate surroundings but also towards the struggles faced by those far removed from us. It is through this broader lens that we can foster a more inclusive and compassionate world that recognizes the interconnectedness of all beings.