Mimpathy
Mimpathy
(Ger. Nachfhlen) The suffering of another must already be given in some form before it is possible for anyone to become a fellow sufferer. Pity and sympathy as experienced are always subsequent to the already apprehended and understood experience of another person who is pitied. One may share another’s feeling about a matter, and yet have no sympathy for that one. The historian, novelist, dramatic artist must possess in high degree the gift of “after-experiencing” or mimpathizing, but they do not in the least need to have sympathy with their objects and persons. See Sympathy. — H.H.