I wish to throw an idea into the discussion on academic approaches between Angela and Jespers. Perhaps the sympathetic approach is misunderstood (by definition 'a harmony and sharing of feelings'); rather, an empathetic approach is more appropriate to academic scholarship (an 'intellectual identification of feelings, thoughts, etc.'). Definitions for each word are found at http://dictionary.reference.com/.
Empathy
Greek empátheia affection (base of páschein to suffer) presen tmeaning translates German Einfühlung
noun
1.
the intellectual identification with or vicarious experiencing ofthe feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another.
2.
the imaginative ascribing to an object, as a natural object orwork of art, feelings or attitudes present in oneself.
Sympathy
Lt. sympathīa Greek sympátheia
noun
1.
harmony of or agreement in feeling, as between persons or on the part of one person with respect to another.
2.
the harmony of feeling naturally existing between persons oflike tastes or opinion or of congenial dispositions.
3.
the fact or power of sharing the feelings of another,especially in sorrow or trouble; fellow feeling, compassion, or commiseration.
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