the paranormal perception of others’ emotions; cf. empath n.
OED records various psychological senses of this word from the late nineteenth century onwards. Despite the context of our 1945 example, it is unclear whether this refers to the SF or the more general sense.
Places with Typewriters: we are writing stories about the future about machines that think creatively…about empathy, second-order space, contra-terrene matter, levitation, astral separation, telepathy, the intuitive mutation, universal synthesis, time-travel, silicon life, and the evolution of intelligence in rats. ]
In the case of Holat, the development was unique—the animal could not only receive the nervous impulses of others, but could at short range induce them. This was the basis of Holatan emotional empathy.]
The Circle’s trying to get Tim without using empathy. They're all blanking out.
The talkers must have well-developed psi facilities, that was obvious now. There is no barrier of race or alien form when two creatures share each other’s emotions. Empathy first, so there would be no hatred or fear.
I can be equipped with electromagnetic sensors and transducers, to feel out a hidden circuit. In addition, I have developed an empathy with machines. I can be aware, on a level below consciousness, of what they are about to do, and adjust my behavior accordingly. It is analogous to my former perception, the normal one, of nuances in expression, tone, stance on the part of fellow Merseians whom I knew intimately.
It appears it learned more from me during our empathy than I did from it.
I could never read your mind; that is impossible unless I have known a person long and well, and then I can merely translate surface thoughts, clearly formulated. I cannot project…Shall we say I have a minor gift of empathy?
Whilst that frightful connector was in place every aspect of his being and existence was totally coupled to Zeus, the cybernetic complex which was so powerful that it had taken over from man the task of constructing and regulating the entire Solarian universe. But the linkage brought far more than an adjustment to his physical condition. Whilst the connection remained, even his brain shared some staggering empathy with the artificial intelligence of the giant machine. Although he soon became lost in the gulfs and voids between its mammoth electronic concepts, he was forced mentally to reach out and touch that most frightening entity of all…artificial intelligence…the machine Id…the personality which was the great computer itself.
Unless some alien interference had cut off the ‘carrier wave’ of some kind of empathy which they seemed to have between them.
They'd shared empathy before, but this kind?
And of course the undeniable necessity of empathy with my own very human sense of pride.
‘It’s okay!’ I faked a smile, using our empathy link to tell him how I really felt. I couldn’t send complete thoughts, but I tried to get the general point across: He needed to be ready. He needed to be quick. I hoped he was a good catch.
antedating 1956
J. T. McIntosh, "Empath"
Last modified 2021-03-25 07:01:57
In the compilation of some
entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries
in OED.