Edith Stein and Tania Singer: A Comparison of Phenomenological and Neurological Approaches to the 'Problem of Empathy'

This paper compares Edith Steinâs phenomenological approach to empathy in On the Problem of Empathy (1917) with that of more recent neurological explanations of empathy, broadly exemplified by Tania Singerâs (2006) work. Given that we are dealing with two different methodologies that reflect the general debate that exists between phenomenology and natural science (neurology), a consideration of âmethodâ will be discussed prior to our comparative analysis of Stein and Singerâs account of empathy. In conclusion, we argue that Steinâs phenomenological understanding of empathy provides the most comprehensive description of the act of empathy to date for neurologists to âreflectâ on