A radical experiment in empathy: Sam Richards at TEDxPSU
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 พ.ค. 2024
- Sam Richards is a sociologist and award-winning teacher who has been inspiring undergraduate students at Penn State since 1990. Every semester, 725 students register for his Race and Ethnic Relations course, one of the most popular classes at Penn State and the largest of its kind in the country. Through his natural ability of seeing a subject from many angles, Richards encourages students to engage more fully with the world and to think for themselves - something he did not do until his third year in college. Because of his passion for challenging students to open their minds, an interviewer recently referred to him as "an alarm clock for eighteen-year-olds."
His career began at the age of 24 when he was hired to teach a cybernetics course - just 15 minutes before the first class meeting. He remembers walking into the room without having had a moment to create a lesson plan and greeting his students, "Welcome to the course. I'm your instructor. And if you have no idea what cybernetics is, you're not alone - because I don't either." This characteristic willingness to be playfully transparent in the classroom, along with a talent for making complex ideas understandable and relevant, is the foundation of his success as a teacher.
Richards is also the co-director of the World in Conversation Project at Penn State (www.worldinconversation.org), whose mission is to create a kind of dialogue about social and cultural issues that invites the unexamined, politically incorrect thoughts of participants to the surface so that those thoughts can be submitted to conscious exploration and inquiry. The conversation topics span a range of cultural issues - from U.S. race relations to gender to faith to international racism. This year, nearly 7,000 University Park students will participate in one of more than 1,300 of these unscripted conversations. Furthermore, the project also sponsors video dialogues between Penn State students and students at other universities around the world.
About TEDx, x = independently organized event
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)
Arabic translation: Noof Fawzi Alkhamis
Malay translation: Iliani Wan Ahmad Murtadza
I'm lucky to say that I was one of the 725 students who took Sam's class last semester. And for those of you who think that Sam is trying to "manipulate you" into thinking that empathy is the main problem that we have when it comes to war, you're wrong. As with any TED talk, speakers INVITE the audience to listen to their ideas. It's YOUR choice to listen, to engage, to understand, and to share their ideas. Once the speaker has left the stage, it is up to YOU to decide if you want to enlighten yourself with those ideas.
Lovely and thoughtful comment.
Valerie Buenafe please watch video of Jim Nduruchi called Viola re Jigger Victims in Kenya
That is true, every single thing in internet for us to listen, to watch, to go into to, it's up to us. The TED talks we hear, the ideas we seek for, the life's perspectives we're searching for, are all here. Once again, it's up to you to grab the ideas or just identify with them. Well said Valerie
Valerie Buenafe well put. I agree with you. In my job every day i try to prevent my patients to be infjantilzed (the way society leads them to be) so the feel more responsable of their actions.
As you say Valérie, you don’t need to feel manipulated each time someone says something accurate that you didn’t think of.
Richards is a marvelous human being.
You ARE lucky and right in your assertions. The choice is ours to give or to take in this life. Unfotunately it's not always easy to give with a society that praises the consumption and the self-interest.
This speach made my cry. And i am a 53 year old experienced MD.
The rage, passion, and concern saturated his voice in a way that no one should be able to deny. He takes all that "be nice" hollow metaphor you learn in school, and really illuminates it in an accessible way. This is powerful!
.....and Marlon Brando had a great performance in Apocalypse Now.
I bet having class with this man's incredible
it is
Soc119. Search it. You will find him and his lectures.
If you like classes where the professor just talks the whole time and you get quizzed on readings you read for homework and nothing in the class. It's his stage so if you enjoy that, youll enjoy the class.
@@chipheuston4064 ......and a stage is all it is. You, sir, appear to be the kind of person that can see through the nonsense. Think "dramaturgical analysis" from your intro to SOC class. You have restored my faith in the critically thinking student, albeit briefly, as the more posts I read will likely steer me in an opposite direction.
I volunteer to translate this to Arabic because if someone volunteers to add it the video (dunno how to do that).
I believe we all need to step out of our shoes and have a more open perspective about the world. I'm really pleased to see something that is not a hate message towards us, Arab Muslims. Thanks Clevonamerica for sharing this!
One of the most fascinating TED talks I've seen in a while.
Sam is anything but typical he actually acts on his beliefs and helps people in other countries. His speeches are just to get people thinking about things they usually don't think about. He would never tell you how you should think but questions you on all your beliefs and thoughts to get you thinking about what you truly believe.
This is very analogous to the militarization of the inner city spaces in the USA. We tell stories of "those people" but rarely do we ever try to understand what its like to be there.
It's scary that there are people who could give this a thumbs down. That's really worrying. This is a very important video/understanding.
100%!!! Beautiful talk!!! We need to start seeing ourselves not as merely individuals, but PART of a greater COLLECTIVE. Empathy is what makes us human... Sending love to all who needs it
Such a brilliant talk with understandable examples, empathy exists in every one of us and I hope we all can increase our empathy to people who we love and who who we don't.
This video should be played in schools everywhere. This kind of thinking seems so rare that it's frightening.
Fantastic speech! One of the very best I have seen! Congratulations, Mr. Richards.
I have him as a professor this semester. Sam Richards is the man!
Best way to make things going on around us easy to understand, "Empathy".
Thanks for your guidance.
I had Sam Richard's for my Soc 001 class. The first day of class he asked people to raise their hands in regards to why they thought we'd gone to war. Oil won out, no contest. He agreed to that. He's well aware that it was for the oil.
I'm astounded that this video does not have millions of views.
Thank you for making the pupil more understanding, you make me happy for saying what i thing about the reality of the situation in Iraq
greetings
a person from Iraq
The man is doing therapy - getting us to be insightful about our thoughts, beliefs and actions.
I can't believe this video is already almost 3 years old but only has so few views. What a great talk.
this was amazing. I've only been studying sociology for a week and i have learned so much.
this was amazing because it helped me with empathy.I have autism which makes it hard for me to understand others emotions,so for me to be able to feel empathy from the different perspectives proposed in this video...is just amazing.
Be empathy is essential part of to be sociologist ,i am from Ethiopian , i would like to add one thing human being cant live alone but some people miss this point. thank you for your sweet speech............ empathy
Great lecture. Empathy is a powerful thing.
My lack of empathy makes one side of these examples as easy to understand as the other. Empathy is the key to curing this problem because the problem is malfunction of empathy to begin with.
@MyobuUzumaki While I mostly agree with you, I think that existing empathy in people needs to be cultivated and nurtured just like any other education and either right now in the western world or just right now in this particular era, that is something we are very dismissive about. I think Sam Richards does a very good job at explaining exactly why it is so crucial that it be given priority especially with what's going on in the world and our responsibility in it.
THANK YOU SIR FOR UNDERSTANDING AND EXPLAINING OUR POINT OF VIEW
Thank you for this video, the message at the end is something we all forget about!
'Step outside your tiny little world and step inside the tiny little world of somebody else... and suddenly with out realizing it you're seeing the world differently.'
As a graduate student, I'll probably not be able to his course. But it was a pleasure listening to him at TEDx.
This guy's talk beats every roller coaster ever in human history
Emapthy: something every human needs to learn
Spelling: something everyone needs to learn
Not everyone can. The Narcissist for example. They can't change.
great talk
This is perhaps one of the most truthful videos that I have ever seen. So unbiased coming from the source is such a fresh breath of air. I, myself don't see anything but the truth & fairness in all people. This video should be mandatory for everyone to take a see & if you have any ounce of love & justice, you will shut your filthy mouth & open your ears & eyes.
So shut the hell up & listen for once in your life. It might do you good. Since you profess so adamantly of your lover of God.
I'm an American and this video has been an eye opener for me. I am thankful for this mans work in teaching us all about how we feel as humans as a whole. SHARE THIS VIDEO WITH YOUR FRIENDS I'LL DO THE SAME. So that we can begin to have empathy for one another/ to understand and work towards bettering our world for ourselves and our children, where we can all feel safe and to love, have happiness. Peace my friend :)
as an Egyptian.. as a muslim.. I want to say Thank you from the bottom of my heart
This is fantastic ! Truth is truth.
I wish more people would listen to this guy.
Very good. Empathy is most definitely the basis of understanding. I also believe it is inexorably linked to the "Golden Rule".
I appreciate what this wonderful man said
Sometimes I feel happiness when I listen to beautiful lecture like this
This little word, empathy, gives chill to my spine. I am trying to reconnect this word to nihilism, passivity and permissive society
THANK YOU
Thank you for revealing the truth. I truly respect you!!!!!!!!
It saddens me to see any dislikes for the video.. whether or not you agree with his opinion, it's still an extremely thought-inspiring speech if you ignore the politics and actually make the effort to empathize
This is the greatest Ted Talk of all Ted Talks.
if you are a soldier in another country-you are the monster commiting war crimes-if you are a soldier standing in your own country -you are a hero trying to defend against the monster. it's pretty simple.
This experiment could be applied to so many conflicts in our world.
An awesome way to learn about empathy. You might like this, people!
Excellent lecture
The most important video an American will ever see. 20 minutes to change your life.
this is a very touching speech
Empathy is the foundation of all ethics
Thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to take a minute and challenge myself to “ put myself in other peoples shoes” you’re sharing a very beautiful message and I wish you all the best in spreading the message.
Best, Khaled
best video i have ever seen.
16:36 there he should get the last skeptic.
Respect for you ! good talk
@Tmmz1107
Hahah I totally agree, I remember attending Dr. Clemente's class and just losing myself to his experiences and stories, it got as far as people just attending his lectures without even finding space to sign in his class, however you have to give Sam Richards some credit hes a phenomenal speaker!
This is such a great video. I really struggled to feel these different scenarios but when I did it was eye-opening and mind blowing for me! Thank you so much TED
i am crying this is so touching! best TED ralk ever ever
Amazing lecture, being a Pakistani i can now understand the feelings of Anti American feelings that alot of my countrymen have. I wish things could have been better!
You are one of your Kind Sam, Stay Blessed!
This fits in with the Venus Project. It was posted in my group that is working for spirituality goals moving towards the venus project and it fits very well. A good talk.
this is such a good lecture, thank you Clevon for this link!
Its unfortunate that this is how sociological understanding/empathy to a mass educated privileged group of people in USA need to be spoken too. The necessity of a rudimentary explanation of the impacts of an expensive and humanly hostile foreign policy needs an emotionally empathic demonstration; speaks volumes. I too in Australia gain from our human indifference to the other! Other side of the world, other side of my English, other side of my culture, other side of my privileged protected life. I just want your oil thank you! Empathy...yes. Why know this because we are not immune to these globally sanctioned behaviours of governments/corporations. When we sanction the apparatus of war and money on the other...we lose control on how it can weld its power, influence on us. Be careful what we ask for...always question if that was my experience...what would I do?
CharKi ClaRke As a 30 year old empathetic American, from observation I can tell you most American's believe we have "Free Press" and thus it can be trusted. So most Americans trust the major press organizations and their opinions are controlled by them, because they think the press speak the truth. Trusting the press is deeply ingrained into American society. However, the press lies. The biggest opposing press organizations sometimes have the same narrative and then people think they're telling the truth even more, because they're competitors yet saying the same thing. It must be truth. When confronting people about it, challenging what they so wholeheartedly believe to be true, they shutdown as if it were a religious debate. People often shut down when their truth shakes. People don't want to think about it. They want to think about Football, Baseball, pornography, TV shows and whatever else passes the time away instead of actively being a part of the world. American's minds are controlled by the press, but the press is corrupt.
This is from my own observation as implied when keeping empathy in core of the conversation. I can probably look up some statistics for you, but as you may know, statistics can be twisted to say whatever you want, so I'm just giving my opinion. I can elaborate more if you wish in regards to age.
David Rader II I agree with you about the whole media system in America.
The one thing I do disagree on, is when you say people often shut down when their truth is shaken.
Assuming their "truth" comes from the media and you challenge them with the real truth. The logical question is, where are you getting your truth from? What proof do you have that you have the real truth?
Larry jones logical deduction...a skill you might wanna read up on..
James Sawyer If one believes he is correct and has the truth and came to his truth by logical deduction, neither proves or disproves anything. It's not a question of what you deduced, it's what can you prove.
I am an atheists. To me it is a logical deduction, that there is no sprit in the sky. I use what I consider to be logical conclusions as to why I don't believe in a god. In the end though, because I can't not prove there is no god and the believer can not prove there is a god, we both can only claim that we came to our truth through by our logical conclusion.
You see logical deduction is not prove of anything.
I know all of this may have been a little heavy for you,but it would be worth your time to read up on it a little bit.
Wow, I am impressed .
Thank you Dr.Richards.
It is true, we have to stop social engineering. We have to stop making assumptions. We need to riser higher and coexist or we are doomed.
I don't see what is so amazing about this lecture. Are people so unempathetical that these view points have never crossed their minds before seeing this lecture? Really?
Thank you. A very important talk.
you're 100% right.
Interception of perception is the key to logical sequence and rationality. Understand what that means and you can understand everything
I absolutely love his passion and tone on this topic
@dgrove21 I think the point in the first three minutes is that Americans would probably be doing this to the Chinese under those conditions. It's not about a culture but about circumstances. Some 100,000+ civilians have died in these wars and Americans are joyous in the streets, singing, saluting flags, dancing all of the time. As a family member of one of those innocents, I'm sure you'd feel something about all of that celebration. That's the point of the talk.
We've lost the ability to empathize because we're too isolated. We watch only our favorite channels, read only our favorite websites, listen to only our favorite talk shows. We expose ourselves only to those sources of information that already agree with us, and they in turn drag us even farther apart, nudging us with baby steps. You already think x and y, and here's z to think about.
We need to get people thinking for themselves again. We need to stop isolating ourselves, and start listening.
awesome talk.. if humans could take this step in every aspect of life, then teh world would be more peaceful to live in
I cried when I pictured the freedom fighter hugging his kid telling him not to worry because he will be back, then leaving the house never to return.
As a social scientist, I could see where he is coming from. Agreed, the examples are rather extreme, but that was the point! Addressing a gathering in the USA about empathy, what better topic to choose than the Iraq war. But the emotions around it are so strong that I can see why the message did not reach.
The message is this, "I might not agree with what they are doing, but I UNDERSTAND..."
Isn't that what empathy is about?
Best 19 minutes I spent today.
Thanks Mitsue, .....too bad most people don't see from this perspective
Brilliant.... love this guy. Said it all...
I wish everyone had the spirit of the native americans
There are many people who need to learn to do this. Peace.
sam richards is the man!!!! i attended some classes and he really stimulates ur mind and make you see different perspectives of everything!
Everyone should watch this.
AMAZING! Thank you!
@wretchedyo Agree agree agree. Love that the world's waking up to this
@x13nick13x Yep. It's the perspective of a sociologist. To put your feet into someone else's shoes. It's the truest perspective and experience of empathy.
@thisisbunk Absolutely. I would totally agree with him/you on that. Empathy is what would drive me to feel obliged to extend rights to others (i.e., Would I want x or y right if I were that person?).
Everyone who feels strongly about an issue should take the time to try and honestly argue that issue from the opposite viewpoint. To really try and prepare a convincing argument against the view they normally hold. For a few, it might change their mind completely. For others, they might find a few points they agree with and modify their stance. But at the least, hopefully most would be able to at least respect and understand the view, even if they don't agree with it.
I am happy he illustrated this point, if the rolls were reversed and Americans were fighting for freedom, we would see this is a Crusade against innocent people.
This is one of the most thoughtful and insightful talks on the subject I have ever seen. Sam Richards presents his viewpoint with devastating comprehensiveness.
I feel as if however some of us may feel we are not able to act and change for the better because most would remain silent for the same age old question what can one person do
I can only semi relate to this. I went overseas as an atheist and stayed an atheist throughout my time in the military. While I respected the Taliban, and understood their convictions, I just could not respect their sharia law barbarism. Women deserve a certain amount of respect. They do not deserve to be kidnapped and decimated for not wearing a burqa. They do not deserve to be slaughtered for trying to learn. The Taliban's convictions destroy lives, and must be crushed, changed, or destroyed.
inspiring lecture, thank you Sam.
Sam Richards has done it again... amazing talk!!!!
If everyone had some degree of empathy: We'd ALL be living a lot differently than we do now. Because unless you, yourself were evil, you couldn't abide with it in your presence.
This is the truth
@Mathis218337 And how many WMD did we find in the end?
@MyobuUzumaki wow haha, I was going to post something similar to that but you took the words right out of my mouth. It's great and all that we understand, but it does nothing if both sides aren't doing it. We'll just be rolling over while they're still mad at us. I think they need these seminars too if we're going to get any understanding and some diplomatic results if this were to really work.
im with him in every word he just said but not only muslim iraqies felt about americans that way .. but christian iraqies too , and im one of them !!
yea..... lets just think about this concept for a moment: The president who initiated the invasion was George bush. George bush happeneds to be very good friends with a man named Dick Chaney( the owner of haliburton). For the someone ignorant of what haiburton has to do with this, i will explain. Haliburton is a weapons company that just so happeneds to be the main supplier for the U.S. military. The war in Iraq made haliburton 39.5 billion.....just giving you a main reason for George's logic
His students do not often ask him "what is sociology".
Pleas Americans wake up
Thanks a lot for this video ... we need more people like you
Bless you
lovely video
GOD BLESS THIS MAN!