antipathy
Antipathy ( ancient Greek αντιπάθεια antipatheia , German 'counter-feeling, aversion' ) is a form of spontaneous aversion that primarily develops when a person dislikes or does not like other people or things and objects. Strong antipathy can also be felt as hatred . The feeling of antipathy is often associated with a negative evaluation of the object of antipathy.
In the dictionary of basic philosophical terms by Friedrich Kirchner from 1907 it says among other things about antipathy: " ... (it arises) from physiological causes or psychological reasons (..). That is based on the peculiar structure of our senses (hence the aversion to certain Smells and the like), these on idea connections. Through education and training of the character, the human comes to control the antipathy. "Antipathy is a human feeling , which is subjective in its perception and not necessarily understandable for the observer. While aversion and disgust denote the tendency to negative reactions to stimuli or objects, the term antipathy is mainly used for social relationships . The opposite of antipathy is sympathy .
Effects
On closer inspection, one can further differentiate the meaning of antipathy. While sympathy describes a state of harmonic resonance, i.e. harmony and compatibility (what the other person has in you, you carry within yourself and therefore feels connected to him), antipathy describes a state of disharmonious resonance ( dissonance ) and indicates an incompatibility or a contradiction. In order for both sides to exist, a distance or a boundary is necessary between them. Antipathy is the pure perception of this difference and the need for a boundary so that both sides can continue to exist. A valuation does not take place under this point of view.
Consequences
When antipathy occurs, one places oneself above the other person with a pejorative attitude and thereby demonstrates his non-acceptance of the other side. Behind this non-acceptance lies the incompatibility of a third person with their own beliefs, their own worldview, self-image and external image of the desired other. By not accepting a person, one tries to avoid confrontation with this contradiction by distancing oneself. A more sensible possibility, however, is the tolerant adaptation of one's own beliefs, attitudes and values towards a world view that also integrates the person in question as a possible interaction partner. From this new point of view, sympathy is at best possible. With this accepting attitude one can now accept the other side as it is, together with any incompatibilities that may still exist and the resulting necessity of boundaries or distance.
literature
- Hattstein, Kilian: Sympathie, Antipathie, Empathie , Publisher: Futurum, 2007, ISBN 3-85636-193-6
