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SUMMARY:Follow the measures: conceptualization\, measurement and interdisc
 iplinarity in the science of empathy - Riana Betzler (Department of Histor
 y and Philosophy of Science)
DTSTART:20190508T120000Z
DTEND:20190508T133000Z
UID:TALK123868@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Matt Farr
DESCRIPTION:Questions about how empathy should be conceptualized have long
  been a preoccupation of the field of empathy research. There are several 
 definitions of empathy currently in circulation\, as well as significant o
 verlap between empathy and related concepts\, such as sympathy\, compassio
 n\, perspective-taking and mind-reading. This conceptual diversity is wide
 ly acknowledged and generally taken to be a problem that needs to be solve
 d. In this paper\, I argue that although there is vast and seemingly intra
 ctable disagreement about the meaning of 'empathy' in the psychological an
 d cognitive neuroscience literature on it – as evidenced by stated defin
 itions and conceptualizations – researchers working in the field seldom 
 rely on those stated definitions and instead work within certain experimen
 tal 'paradigms' characterized by the use of established measures. Continui
 ty and stability comes from the use of those established measures while pr
 ogress comes from expansion upon those measures. Stated concepts respond f
 lexibly and not always in step with the evolution of research methodologie
 s. By following the measures rather than the stated definitions\, we can g
 et clearer on the target(s) of empirical empathy research. Towards the end
  of the talk\, I consider how this 'follow the measures' approach fares wh
 en considering interdisciplinary research and the special problems interdi
 sciplinarity might pose.
LOCATION:Seminar Room 2\, Department of History and Philosophy of Science
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