Who coined the word "empathy"?

Question

I am confused about the origin of "empathy". Here's what I have found so far..

**1903, translation of Ger. Einfühlung (from ein "in" + Fühlung "feeling"), coined 1858 by Ger. philosopher Rudolf Lotze (1817-81) from Gk. empatheia "passion," from en- "in" + pathos "feeling" (see pathos). A term from a theory of art appreciation. Empathize (v.) was coined 1924; empathic (adj.) is from 1909.

**The English term is a translation of the German word Einfühlung, coined in 1873 by the German philosopher Robert Vischer. Vischer used it to refer to a modality of aesthetic sensibility. In contrast to the theory that categorized objective qualities inherent in the object as beautiful, Vischer described the subjective nature of an experience where beauty resulted from the projection of human sensibilities onto natural objects. Theodor Lipps (1851-1914), a philosopher who taught in Munich, gave empathy a broader, psychological range, attributing to this form of intuition access to knowledge of another's subjectivity. It is in this sense, and most likely from reading Lipps, that Sigmund Freud used the term, which was still uncommon at the time.

so who used it first Vischer or Lotze?

Answer 1

It's strange.

I've found a few articles discussing the German origin - so you should consider Lipps as the first one to use the word in the meaning that we give it today.



However, as you noted, the ethimology comes from the Greek word 'Emphateia', as in 'in-pathos' - > 'in the feelings', 'in affection'.

I am led to believe that the Greek word should come way before the German versions, therefore that should be considered the origin of the word...

Answer 2

1903, translation of Ger. Einfühlung (from ein "in" + Fühlung "feeling"), coined 1858 by Ger. philosopher Rudolf Lotze (1817-81) from Gk. empatheia "passion," from en- "in" + pathos "feeling" (see pathos). A term from a theory of art appreciation. Empathize (v.) was coined 1924; empathic (adj.) is from 1909.



http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=empathy



The concept did not become important until 1960, when Ralph Greenson studied it, no doubt influenced by the interest in countertransference that occurred after the work of Heinrich Racker and Paula Heimann. Since then a number of studies have emphasized the importance of the concept for communication during analysis. There have been some reservations arising from what was felt to be the somewhat obscure and slightly irrational nature of the phenomenon. Other authors (Buie, 1981; Widlöcher, 1993) have tried to specify the psychological mechanisms operating in this complex form of intuitive understanding, specifically emphasizing the role of identification and inference. From the metapsychological perspective, the debate continues between those who assign empathy a decisive role in the discovery of the unconscious and the therapeutic activity of the psychoanalyst (Heinz Kohut) and those who deny that empathy can play a role in identifying the unconscious.



more.......



http://www.answers.com/topic/empathy

Answer 3

Well, obviously there is some debate as to who coined it first. If Lotze coined it in 1858 and Vischer coined it in 1873, I guess there will be some documentary evidence (some publication or paper).

Answer 4

It was actually Chuck Norris.