Abstract

Sympathy is a virtue marked by what we call “empathy-related responding”. Some philosophers (e.g. Blum 1980) and psychologists (e.g. Batson 1991; Hoffman 2000; Eisenberg et al. 2006) have argued that empathy-related responding is the basis of much virtuous behaviour, especially prosocial behaviour (voluntary behaviour intended to benefit another). In this chapter, we discuss definitions of empathy-related responding, its role in virtue, moral development and social competence, and the development and origins of empathy-related responding.