Is Empathy Enough? The Hidden Cost of Good Intentions With Dr. Arthur Schwartz

2025-04-09

Is empathy enough to create real change? In this episode, I talk with Dr. Arthur Schwartz, President of Character.org and lifelong advocate for character development, about why empathy alone doesn’t create change, and what it really takes to live with integrity, purpose, and courage. We discuss:- Why Empathy Isn’t Enough: What most people get wrong about empathy, and how too much of it can block justice and enable harm.- Character vs. Compliance: The difference between doing the right thing because you have to vs. because it’s who yo...

Is empathy enough to create real change?

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Arthur Schwartz, President of Character.org and lifelong advocate for character development, about why empathy alone doesn’t create change, and what it really takes to live with integrity, purpose, and courage.

We discuss:
- Why Empathy Isn’t Enough: What most people get wrong about empathy, and how too much of it can block justice and enable harm.
- Character vs. Compliance: The difference between doing the right thing because you have to vs. because it’s who you are.
- Building A Virtue Habit: How Arthur built a gratitude practice from scratch and why small habits matter.

Challenge:
Choose a character trait that doesn't come naturally to you, and create a small daily habit to practice it.

Resources:

FREE VIA Character Survey

Soar With Your Strengths by Donald Clifton (Book)

StrengthFinder 2.0 (Book)

Chatter by Ethan Kross (Book)

Character.org

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