Final answer:
Empathy can lead us to side with individuals who violate ethical norms by fostering a deep emotional understanding that may cloud our moral judgment. While empathy is vital for our social fabric, an exclusive reliance on it can result in moral relativism. A balanced ethical approach that includes both rationale and emotion is essential.
Step-by-step explanation:
Empathy can trick us into siding with people who violate ethical norms because it allows us to emotionally identify with the individual, potentially obscuring our moral judgment. When we understand someone's motives or feelings, we might inadvertently excuse their unethical actions. This concept is addressed by various theories in ethics, which suggest that while empathy is crucial for social bonds and moral faculties, it must be balanced with rational ethical principles to avoid endorsing harmful behaviors.
Philosophers like Mencius considered compassion and empathy as fundamentals for ethical behavior. Moreover, neuroscience research by individuals such as Frans de Waal indicates that empathy is part of our evolutionary heritage, essential for social living. However, when ethics is solely guided by emotion, there's a risk of moral relativism—becoming lenient toward acts that are otherwise considered wrong under the guise of understanding or cultural differences.
Ultimately, a balanced approach to ethics, which includes both rational judgment and emotional understanding, is necessary to fully assess the consequences of actions without being swayed by our innate empathic tendencies.