Gad Saad Warns of "Suicidal Empathy" Undermining Western Societies

Public intellectual and evolutionary psychologist Dr. Gad Saad has articulated a stark warning about what he terms "suicidal empathy," suggesting it is a driving force behind the decline of Western societies. In a recent statement shared on social media by "Conversations with Coleman," Saad contended that this misguided form of empathy prioritizes the rights of perpetrators and marginalized groups over the well-being of the general populace and victims.

"We care more about the rights of the felon than we care about the victims. We care more about the rights of the Muslim noble rapists in Britain than those whiny, entitled British white girls…. We care more about the homeless people who are shooting up heroin in the public parks than about the rights of your children and mine to be able to be in that park," Saad stated in the tweet. He further asserted that "Most of the domestic and foreign policies that are orgiastically destroying the West stem from this misguided empathy."

Dr. Saad, a Professor of Marketing at Concordia University and visiting professor at Northwood University, has been developing the concept of "suicidal empathy" as a follow-up to his 2020 bestseller, The Parasitic Mind: How Infectious Ideas Are Killing Common Sense. His forthcoming book, also titled Suicidal Empathy, delves deeper into this idea, examining how an "orgiastic hyperactive form of empathy, deployed on the wrong targets," can lead to suboptimal societal decisions. He argues that this phenomenon prevents societies from implementing optimal decisions by tricking emotional systems.

This concept suggests an imbalance where compassion is extended without considering long-term societal impacts or the strategic deployment of resources. Saad posits that evolutionary principles dictate a more selective application of empathy, similar to how parents prioritize their own children's safety. He cites examples such as the perceived prioritization of illegal migrants over American veterans and the rights of trans women over biological women in athletic competitions as manifestations of this "suicidal empathy."

Saad's views have generated considerable discussion, particularly within conservative and libertarian circles, where his critiques of "wokeism" and "idea pathogens" resonate. His work often draws on evolutionary psychology to explain human behavior and societal trends, advocating for a return to what he considers common sense and reason in public discourse. The concept challenges traditional notions of compassion, urging a more critical assessment of where and how empathy is applied in policy and social interactions.