Gad Saad Warns Against Misguided Empathy Threatening Western Civilization

Author and scholar Gad Saad expresses concern about the potential collapse of Western civilization due to misguided empathy. In his latest book, Suicidal Empathy: Dying to Be Kind, Saad contends that excessive compassion has led to prioritizing ideological virtue-signaling over truth and common sense. He emphasizes the importance of balance, echoing Aristotle’s teachings on moderation.

Saad uses the October 7 Hamas attack in Israel as a case in point. Initially, global empathy was directed towards Israeli victims; however, attention quickly shifted to criticize Israel’s military response in Gaza. He believes this reaction illustrates a broader ideological change that has been unfolding in the West for years.

Saad discusses the dangerous consequences of misplaced empathy, referring to it as “civilizational seppuku,” a term borrowed from Japanese samurai culture symbolizing ritual suicide. According to Saad, this dangerous empathy originated on university campuses and spread into politics, media, and culture, leading to confusion over basic definitions such as gender. He highlights a significant discussion during Justice Katanji Brown Jackson’s 2022 confirmation hearing where the definition of “woman” was debated.

During this hearing, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., asked Jackson to define “woman.” Jackson declined, saying, “I’m not a biologist.” Saad criticizes this response, suggesting that ordinary individuals recognize obvious realities without needing specialized expertise.

Saad, who fled Lebanon in 1975 due to civil unrest, shares his personal experiences with growing antisemitism in Canada since 1998. He notes an increased hostility, which has made his position as a high-profile Jewish professor challenging.

Currently, Saad is affiliated with the Declaration of Independence Center for the Study of American Freedom at the University of Mississippi and will assume a distinguished professor role next year. He argues that while the election of President Donald Trump signaled a potential shift away from DEI and gender theories, real cultural change requires sustained effort.

Saad acknowledges a slight increase in support from fellow academics but observes that many request anonymity when praising his work. He attributes this hesitancy to a fear of backlash and calls for more courageous advocacy.