image sourced from original article at Author and scholar Gad Saad argues that Western civilization is nearing collapse due to what he calls 'suicidal empathy,' a form of misplaced compassion that prioritizes ideological virtue over truth and common sense. In his new book, Suicidal Empathy: Dying to Be Kind, he contends that while empathy is a virtue, excessive or misdirected empathy can erode moral clarity and societal stability.
Saad points to reactions following the October 7 Hamas attacks in Israel as a key example, saying public sympathy quickly shifted away from Israeli victims toward criticism of Israel. He believes this response reflects deeper ideological changes that began on university campuses and spread into politics, media, and culture, including debates over gender identity and diversity initiatives.
Drawing on his own experiences as a Jewish academic who fled Lebanon and later taught in Canada, Saad warns that rising antisemitism and a culture of fear among professors signal moral decay. Now affiliated with the University of Mississippi, he argues that lasting cultural change will require long-term efforts beyond electoral politics and urges more academics to speak out publicly.
