The value of empathy comes not from understanding the other person's feelings, but what you do as a result of this. (a)Describe empathy as a value. (b)Narrate an event when you actually felt empathy. How was it helpful for the other person?

Empathy is an ability to put one self at other person’s place to understand his pain, suffering and condition. It is different from sympathy which a instinctive reaction of kindness.
A person who is empathetic not only shows kindness towards a person but also understands the nature of problem, consequences and causes of it. For instance if a poor and vulnerable person approaches a civil servant, different treatments may  would be meted out depending on the values of civil servant. A civil servant may turn indifferent to his problem. He may show kindness to him but take no action to alleviate his suffering. In third case an empathetic civil servant may not only show kindness but also take action.

Topics: GS-IV: Human Values