um before we get into the nebulous realms of compassion and morality and
realms of compassion and morality and
realms of compassion and morality and all those other human complications that
all those other human complications that
all those other human complications that seem far too large to contemplate and
seem far too large to contemplate and
seem far too large to contemplate and actually just like to pause for a second
actually just like to pause for a second
actually just like to pause for a second on something more semantic because my
on something more semantic because my
on something more semantic because my talk started out as a question and does
talk started out as a question and does
talk started out as a question and does moral fatigue dilute compassion and the
moral fatigue dilute compassion and the
moral fatigue dilute compassion and the nature of questions implies that there
nature of questions implies that there
nature of questions implies that there are one or a number of specific reasons
are one or a number of specific reasons
are one or a number of specific reasons to elicit an answer and given that I
to elicit an answer and given that I
to elicit an answer and given that I can’t really say that I on to these huge
can’t really say that I on to these huge
can’t really say that I on to these huge questions about morality so instead
questions about morality so instead
questions about morality so instead you’re going to have to bear with me
you’re going to have to bear with me
you’re going to have to bear with me while I call this a deconstruction so
while I call this a deconstruction so
while I call this a deconstruction so that’s the framework we’re working under
that’s the framework we’re working under
that’s the framework we’re working under it’s really just me sorting through my
it’s really just me sorting through my
it’s really just me sorting through my own emotional conflict um and also just
own emotional conflict um and also just
own emotional conflict um and also just a quick thing when I say media I’m
a quick thing when I say media I’m
a quick thing when I say media I’m largely referring to news coverage and
largely referring to news coverage and
largely referring to news coverage and broadcasting on both traditional and new
broadcasting on both traditional and new
broadcasting on both traditional and new mediums so here we actually go you see
mediums so here we actually go you see
mediums so here we actually go you see morality has defined is the principles
morality has defined is the principles
morality has defined is the principles concerning the distinction between right
concerning the distinction between right
concerning the distinction between right and wrong
and wrong
and wrong it’s the differentiation of intentions
it’s the differentiation of intentions
it’s the differentiation of intentions decisions and actions and moral dilemmas
decisions and actions and moral dilemmas
decisions and actions and moral dilemmas manifests themselves all around us they
manifests themselves all around us they
manifests themselves all around us they they wreak havoc whether it’s you know
they wreak havoc whether it’s you know
they wreak havoc whether it’s you know stopping yourself a meeting that last
stopping yourself a meeting that last
stopping yourself a meeting that last slice of pizza or avoiding that
slice of pizza or avoiding that
slice of pizza or avoiding that convenient coffee shop down the road
convenient coffee shop down the road
convenient coffee shop down the road that you know donates to causes that you
that you know donates to causes that you
that you know donates to causes that you just can’t get behind or maybe it’s
just can’t get behind or maybe it’s
just can’t get behind or maybe it’s confessing to something that’s going to
confessing to something that’s going to
confessing to something that’s going to send your best friend off to prison for
send your best friend off to prison for
send your best friend off to prison for the next 10 years the last one’s
the next 10 years the last one’s
the next 10 years the last one’s actually famous it’s called the
actually famous it’s called the
actually famous it’s called the prisoner’s dilemma and I use it in game
prisoner’s dilemma and I use it in game
prisoner’s dilemma and I use it in game theory the point is is that all of these
theory the point is is that all of these
theory the point is is that all of these examples rely on this conflict between
examples rely on this conflict between
examples rely on this conflict between self-preservation and self-interest and
self-preservation and self-interest and
self-preservation and self-interest and goodwill for others and so when I was
goodwill for others and so when I was
goodwill for others and so when I was thinking about these things what struck
thinking about these things what struck
thinking about these things what struck me is that doing the right thing seems
me is that doing the right thing seems
me is that doing the right thing seems to have an inherent connotation of doing
to have an inherent connotation of doing
to have an inherent connotation of doing justice by other people it’s something
justice by other people it’s something
justice by other people it’s something to bear in mind on the other hand
to bear in mind on the other hand
to bear in mind on the other hand we have immorality which is the active
we have immorality which is the active
we have immorality which is the active opposition to any moral principles the
opposition to any moral principles the
opposition to any moral principles the bad people I actually like to say the
bad people I actually like to say the
bad people I actually like to say the bad decisions because I think that’s an
bad decisions because I think that’s an
bad decisions because I think that’s an important distinction to make and I’ll
important distinction to make and I’ll
important distinction to make and I’ll leave that with you but what I think is
leave that with you but what I think is
leave that with you but what I think is more interestingly well like of course I
more interestingly well like of course I
more interestingly well like of course I do is a morality especially at this
do is a morality especially at this
do is a morality especially at this point in time and a morality is the
point in time and a morality is the
point in time and a morality is the indifference to any moral principles you
indifference to any moral principles you
indifference to any moral principles you see it’s like being thrown into a rink
see it’s like being thrown into a rink
see it’s like being thrown into a rink is how I think of it because we’ve been
is how I think of it because we’ve been
is how I think of it because we’ve been asked to deflect these punches from both
asked to deflect these punches from both
asked to deflect these punches from both the Augmented nature of tragedy and the
the Augmented nature of tragedy and the
the Augmented nature of tragedy and the media at the same time and this has
media at the same time and this has
media at the same time and this has edged us closer and closer to it simply
edged us closer and closer to it simply
edged us closer and closer to it simply not caring to be indifferent to be
not caring to be indifferent to be
not caring to be indifferent to be unaffected by the plight of others and
unaffected by the plight of others and
unaffected by the plight of others and this this is dangerous our collective
this this is dangerous our collective
this this is dangerous our collective morality is on this slippery slope
morality is on this slippery slope
morality is on this slippery slope towards this indifference we’ve gone
towards this indifference we’ve gone
towards this indifference we’ve gone from questioning these infinite shades
from questioning these infinite shades
from questioning these infinite shades of grey’ to not even caring if black
of grey’ to not even caring if black
of grey’ to not even caring if black white or grey exist and so this morality
white or grey exist and so this morality
white or grey exist and so this morality I think exists not for being mall but
I think exists not for being mall but
I think exists not for being mall but for the sake of appearances to appear
for the sake of appearances to appear
for the sake of appearances to appear moral and I think it’s actually quite
moral and I think it’s actually quite
moral and I think it’s actually quite redundant most of the time because it’s
redundant most of the time because it’s
redundant most of the time because it’s really just a reflection of my phone
really just a reflection of my phone
really just a reflection of my phone screen or my laptop or my well my mobile
screen or my laptop or my well my mobile
screen or my laptop or my well my mobile is my phone and so it really doesn’t
is my phone and so it really doesn’t
is my phone and so it really doesn’t exist in its own right we are operating
exist in its own right we are operating
exist in its own right we are operating at its most basic threshold of what it
at its most basic threshold of what it
at its most basic threshold of what it takes to be moral and that’s because the
takes to be moral and that’s because the
takes to be moral and that’s because the weight of making a decision weighs heavy
weight of making a decision weighs heavy
weight of making a decision weighs heavy it is literally exhausting and it’s
it is literally exhausting and it’s
it is literally exhausting and it’s force us to reach a state of compassion
force us to reach a state of compassion
force us to reach a state of compassion fatigue it’s also the reason why I as an
fatigue it’s also the reason why I as an
fatigue it’s also the reason why I as an 18 year old take have literally taken a
18 year old take have literally taken a
18 year old take have literally taken a nap every single day for the past two
nap every single day for the past two
nap every single day for the past two years but that’s a different
years but that’s a different
years but that’s a different conversation and it’s because these
conversation and it’s because these
conversation and it’s because these images and these stories we see have a
images and these stories we see have a
images and these stories we see have a profound impact we’re emotional beings
profound impact we’re emotional beings
profound impact we’re emotional beings it’s easier to sit there and put on that
it’s easier to sit there and put on that
it’s easier to sit there and put on that Facebook filter to avoid that difficult
Facebook filter to avoid that difficult
Facebook filter to avoid that difficult conversation in the morning the
conversation in the morning the
conversation in the morning the to feel that blunt-force of empathy one
to feel that blunt-force of empathy one
to feel that blunt-force of empathy one of my one of my personal I con Susan
of my one of my personal I con Susan
of my one of my personal I con Susan Sontag said this about one of her
Sontag said this about one of her
Sontag said this about one of her experiences with photography and she
experiences with photography and she
experiences with photography and she said that some limit had been reached
said that some limit had been reached
said that some limit had been reached not not just that of horror
not not just that of horror
not not just that of horror I felt irrevocably grieved wounded
I felt irrevocably grieved wounded
I felt irrevocably grieved wounded something went dead something is still
something went dead something is still
something went dead something is still crying and I think we’ve all been there
crying and I think we’ve all been there
crying and I think we’ve all been there I know I have and for that very reason I
I know I have and for that very reason I
I know I have and for that very reason I feel like my own morality sometimes
feel like my own morality sometimes
feel like my own morality sometimes thunders within my head but can’t seem
thunders within my head but can’t seem
thunders within my head but can’t seem to break out of my own mind you see now
to break out of my own mind you see now
to break out of my own mind you see now more so than ever we all here consume
more so than ever we all here consume
more so than ever we all here consume media vociferously and it affects how we
media vociferously and it affects how we
media vociferously and it affects how we think and we act and more crucially
think and we act and more crucially
think and we act and more crucially don’t so I’m not asking any of you to go
don’t so I’m not asking any of you to go
don’t so I’m not asking any of you to go out into the streets and beat your chest
out into the streets and beat your chest
out into the streets and beat your chest I’m just saying that you need to be
I’m just saying that you need to be
I’m just saying that you need to be cognizant about the fact that your
cognizant about the fact that your
cognizant about the fact that your apathy is dangerous right I’m sorry
apathy is dangerous right I’m sorry
apathy is dangerous right I’m sorry and that’s just so important because
and that’s just so important because
and that’s just so important because what’s actually interesting is that when
what’s actually interesting is that when
what’s actually interesting is that when I sat down to write this since you’re
I sat down to write this since you’re
I sat down to write this since you’re actually delivering it today I’ve seen a
actually delivering it today I’ve seen a
actually delivering it today I’ve seen a completely new side of this argument
completely new side of this argument
completely new side of this argument emerge cataclysmic political decisions
emerge cataclysmic political decisions
emerge cataclysmic political decisions have taken place in the last few months
have taken place in the last few months
have taken place in the last few months and as I watch my world change rapidly
and as I watch my world change rapidly
and as I watch my world change rapidly and absolutely terrifyingly I’ve also
and absolutely terrifyingly I’ve also
and absolutely terrifyingly I’ve also seen people mobilize like never before
seen people mobilize like never before
seen people mobilize like never before because great hardship always gives
because great hardship always gives
because great hardship always gives birth to great movements I’ve seen the
birth to great movements I’ve seen the
birth to great movements I’ve seen the power of the press and the media as a
power of the press and the media as a
power of the press and the media as a collective as the voice of morality and
collective as the voice of morality and
collective as the voice of morality and it’s been and it’s because and sorry and
it’s been and it’s because and sorry and
it’s been and it’s because and sorry and it’s it’s emboldened people it’s because
it’s it’s emboldened people it’s because
it’s it’s emboldened people it’s because representation matters and in emboldened
representation matters and in emboldened
representation matters and in emboldened and that is the media at its most
and that is the media at its most
and that is the media at its most quixotic sidestepping my little bit of
quixotic sidestepping my little bit of
quixotic sidestepping my little bit of optimism there for a second your apathy
optimism there for a second your apathy
optimism there for a second your apathy has still done the damage we’ve
has still done the damage we’ve
has still done the damage we’ve cultivated an empathy gap and I
cultivated an empathy gap and I
cultivated an empathy gap and I completely understand this because
completely understand this because
completely understand this because distance provides escape
distance provides escape
distance provides escape from emotionally and mentally it
from emotionally and mentally it
from emotionally and mentally it provides shelter from that absolutely
provides shelter from that absolutely
provides shelter from that absolutely assaulting truth but what I’ve taken
assaulting truth but what I’ve taken
assaulting truth but what I’ve taken from that is that and I think we all
from that is that and I think we all
from that is that and I think we all know this is that there’s no point in
know this is that there’s no point in
know this is that there’s no point in finding shelter under a house of cards I
finding shelter under a house of cards I
finding shelter under a house of cards I think at some level we all do you know
think at some level we all do you know
think at some level we all do you know this for me personally it’s rooted in
this for me personally it’s rooted in
this for me personally it’s rooted in the belief that the human condition is a
the belief that the human condition is a
the belief that the human condition is a shared one and in our finer moments that
shared one and in our finer moments that
shared one and in our finer moments that shared humanity echoes louder than
shared humanity echoes louder than
shared humanity echoes louder than anything else but then when I was
anything else but then when I was
anything else but then when I was reading up about this I my belief was
reading up about this I my belief was
reading up about this I my belief was confirmed in the Golden Rule which is
confirmed in the Golden Rule which is
confirmed in the Golden Rule which is it’s part of normative moral philosophy
it’s part of normative moral philosophy
it’s part of normative moral philosophy it’s a it’s a moral Maxim that’s
it’s a it’s a moral Maxim that’s
it’s a it’s a moral Maxim that’s concerned it’s prevalent in nearly every
concerned it’s prevalent in nearly every
concerned it’s prevalent in nearly every single human culture and religion which
single human culture and religion which
single human culture and religion which to me suggests that it’s a fundamental
to me suggests that it’s a fundamental
to me suggests that it’s a fundamental part of human nature you see it’s an
part of human nature you see it’s an
part of human nature you see it’s an ethic concerned with reciprocity to
ethic concerned with reciprocity to
ethic concerned with reciprocity to treat others as you would want to be
treat others as you would want to be
treat others as you would want to be treated yourself and this demands that
treated yourself and this demands that
treated yourself and this demands that an active decision is made one of my
an active decision is made one of my
an active decision is made one of my favorite existential philosophers
favorite existential philosophers
favorite existential philosophers because I have many jean-paul Sartre
because I have many jean-paul Sartre
because I have many jean-paul Sartre once said that when we say that man
once said that when we say that man
once said that when we say that man chooses for himself we do mean that
chooses for himself we do mean that
chooses for himself we do mean that every man must choose for himself but by
every man must choose for himself but by
every man must choose for himself but by that we also mean that in choosing for
that we also mean that in choosing for
that we also mean that in choosing for himself he chooses for all men mankind
himself he chooses for all men mankind
himself he chooses for all men mankind women um in essence it operates on the
women um in essence it operates on the
women um in essence it operates on the foundations of compassion there is an
foundations of compassion there is an
foundations of compassion there is an implied unbreakable connection between
implied unbreakable connection between
implied unbreakable connection between the individual and the society a
the individual and the society a
the individual and the society a connection through which each action
connection through which each action
connection through which each action takes on an additional responsibility
takes on an additional responsibility
takes on an additional responsibility and when I looked into this honor that’s
and when I looked into this honor that’s
and when I looked into this honor that’s that’s the metaphorical level and when I
that’s the metaphorical level and when I
that’s the metaphorical level and when I looked into this on a more on the word
looked into this on a more on the word
looked into this on a more on the word level the etymology of compassion in
level the etymology of compassion in
level the etymology of compassion in Latin is actually Co suffering it’s
Latin is actually Co suffering it’s
Latin is actually Co suffering it’s cognate to the Greek noun pathos to
cognate to the Greek noun pathos to
cognate to the Greek noun pathos to evoke sympathy and I think that that’s
evoke sympathy and I think that that’s
evoke sympathy and I think that that’s so absolutely beautifully tragic to
so absolutely beautifully tragic to
so absolutely beautifully tragic to suffer together as if all of human
suffer together as if all of human
suffer together as if all of human understanding isn’t based on what we
understanding isn’t based on what we
understanding isn’t based on what we have in common but rather on our ability
have in common but rather on our ability
have in common but rather on our ability to sit down and take with one another
to sit down and take with one another
to sit down and take with one another for one another there’s no doubt that
for one another there’s no doubt that
for one another there’s no doubt that it’s hard to feel morale all the time
it’s hard to feel morale all the time
it’s hard to feel morale all the time because if we felt every ounce of pain
because if we felt every ounce of pain
because if we felt every ounce of pain in the world we would implode quite
in the world we would implode quite
in the world we would implode quite simply our emotions would be obliterated
simply our emotions would be obliterated
simply our emotions would be obliterated and we would cease to remain
and we would cease to remain
and we would cease to remain compassionate but because if I have to
compassionate but because if I have to
compassionate but because if I have to make a moral decision on one thing do I
make a moral decision on one thing do I
make a moral decision on one thing do I really need to make a moral decision on
really need to make a moral decision on
really need to make a moral decision on everything while it’s helpful in me
everything while it’s helpful in me
everything while it’s helpful in me yearns for this capacity I am a cynical
yearns for this capacity I am a cynical
yearns for this capacity I am a cynical idealist at best and even I know that I
idealist at best and even I know that I
idealist at best and even I know that I cannot encapsulate the pain of the world
cannot encapsulate the pain of the world
cannot encapsulate the pain of the world but I can choose to not be blind by it
but I can choose to not be blind by it
but I can choose to not be blind by it to it rather um the reason I decided
to it rather um the reason I decided
to it rather um the reason I decided that I needed to talk about this today
that I needed to talk about this today
that I needed to talk about this today is because I read something that really
is because I read something that really
is because I read something that really it hit home and it kind of borrowed
it hit home and it kind of borrowed
it hit home and it kind of borrowed itself inside um and it was this quote
itself inside um and it was this quote
itself inside um and it was this quote by Andrew Boyd who I actually anyway and
by Andrew Boyd who I actually anyway and
by Andrew Boyd who I actually anyway and so so Andrew Boyd said compassion hurts
so so Andrew Boyd said compassion hurts
so so Andrew Boyd said compassion hurts when you feel connected to everything
when you feel connected to everything
when you feel connected to everything you feel responsible for everything and
you feel responsible for everything and
you feel responsible for everything and you cannot turn away your destiny is
you cannot turn away your destiny is
you cannot turn away your destiny is bound with the destiny of others you
bound with the destiny of others you
bound with the destiny of others you must either learn to carry the universe
must either learn to carry the universe
must either learn to carry the universe or be crushed by it you must be able to
or be crushed by it you must be able to
or be crushed by it you must be able to love the world and sit down and let stay
love the world and sit down and let stay
love the world and sit down and let stay at the table with its worst horrors I do
at the table with its worst horrors I do
at the table with its worst horrors I do not know how to solve our growing
not know how to solve our growing
not know how to solve our growing aversion to compassion I cannot answer
aversion to compassion I cannot answer
aversion to compassion I cannot answer those huge questions about morality but
those huge questions about morality but
those huge questions about morality but I know that we have to be compassionate
I know that we have to be compassionate
I know that we have to be compassionate none of us here can escape the tragedy
none of us here can escape the tragedy
none of us here can escape the tragedy of the world that’s just how it is but
of the world that’s just how it is but
of the world that’s just how it is but you can choose to change the way you
you can choose to change the way you
you can choose to change the way you process what you consume I’m a sucker
process what you consume I’m a sucker
process what you consume I’m a sucker for metaphor but I think this analogy
for metaphor but I think this analogy
for metaphor but I think this analogy actually sums that up better compassion
actually sums that up better compassion
actually sums that up better compassion fatigue has had me hinged on the balance
fatigue has had me hinged on the balance
fatigue has had me hinged on the balance between wanting to be like a completely
between wanting to be like a completely
between wanting to be like a completely exposed nerve and not having any nerve
exposed nerve and not having any nerve
exposed nerve and not having any nerve endings at all to be numb and while
endings at all to be numb and while
endings at all to be numb and while compassion breeds pain I would always
compassion breeds pain I would always
compassion breeds pain I would always like to pick the former and I’d hoped
like to pick the former and I’d hoped
like to pick the former and I’d hoped that you’d commit that also essentially
that you’d commit that also essentially
that you’d commit that also essentially this dog has stemmed from a disease
this dog has stemmed from a disease
this dog has stemmed from a disease to talk about something that has felt so
to talk about something that has felt so
to talk about something that has felt so overwhelming for so very long to
overwhelming for so very long to
overwhelming for so very long to acknowledge that the struggle for
acknowledge that the struggle for
acknowledge that the struggle for morality is a struggle in the face of
morality is a struggle in the face of
morality is a struggle in the face of adversity with its teeth to allow myself
adversity with its teeth to allow myself
adversity with its teeth to allow myself to sit down and be scared of sitting
to sit down and be scared of sitting
to sit down and be scared of sitting down with the world’s Horrors to remind
down with the world’s Horrors to remind
down with the world’s Horrors to remind myself that I can and will become strong
myself that I can and will become strong
myself that I can and will become strong enough one day because we cannot live
enough one day because we cannot live
enough one day because we cannot live and be submerged by waves of apathy
and be submerged by waves of apathy
and be submerged by waves of apathy instead we must learn to live against
instead we must learn to live against
instead we must learn to live against the current constantly seeking out
the current constantly seeking out
the current constantly seeking out compassion thank you very much
compassion thank you very much
compassion thank you very much [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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