homework help: Philosophy question: How did the Good Samaritan have empathy? - Help.com

I think he acted on his moral obligations. The other men who passed by ignored their moral obligations, although I am sure they had them as well.

That’s three questions. ; )

1) How did he have empathy? Empathy is an expression of love, a recognition that we are connected to every other particle of existence (eg. other people). That being a universal principle, the Samaritan already possessed empathy as part of his being.

2) Were his actions above the call of duty? Duty is a relative, not an absolute; so we can say yes or no depending on whom the judgement of duty falls.

3) Was it his moral obligation? Again, morals are highly subjective and are always suspect. Once again, we can say yes or no depending on who’s answering.

..This is why those who passed by did not help - they saw through the eyes of duty or morality, and decided that either it was not their duty, or not their moral obligation.

For the Samaritan, it was neither dutiful or moral to help another being - he simply recognized himself in the other person (empathy), and love did what love always does: gave freely of itself, without attachment.