Empathy Versus Tyranny: Witnessing Moral Conflict Through Adlerian Lenses

ABSTRACT: Tyranny and wars can be seen as something of a self-propagating system in which wars are fought to overcome tyranny, leaving behind unresolved social forces and power dynamics that set up the next episode of tyranny. Wars can both challenge and promote desirable human qualities and sow the seeds of beneficial change from what has been learned, but the results depend on effective and empathetic communication that crosses cultural boundaries and includes marginalized voices—especially those most closely affected by war itself. Of particular interest and significance are stories that reveal the roots of moral conflict through moral injuries or episodes of experience that call into question the “rightness” of actions on the basis of commonly held values and beliefs. This article proposes conceptual models to help bridge existing gaps in communication and empathy between members of the military and veterans and others who may serve as interpreters, as a way of enhancing the capacity for an informed and engaged global citizenry to serve as witness to both individual- and system- level effects of war and tyranny. The exploration here is intentionally cross-disciplinary and includes concepts from sociology, psychology, history, geopolitics, phenomenology, somatics and physiology, and communication, all framed by Adlerian principles of “in-divisible” psychology. Conclusions include further thoughts on how to expand empathic space for alternative approaches to war and tyranny as well as an invitation to the Adlerian community to join (and help facilitate) the conversation.