I think Darkness raises an interesting point. It made me think about a review I recently read on a psychologist's book which questions the value of empathy as being an irrational and easily manipulated emotion:

http://www.economist.com/news/books-...others-expense

I'm not sure where my own thoughts lie on this but I do think it's important to draw a line between empathy and caring - it is possible to still care and be compassionate without empathy. Empathy is about reading others emotions - it's possible to have good empathy but not necessarily use it for good, in fact it's possible to use empathic knowledge for harm. Feeling what others feel is not always good either - I write this as a fairly empathic person who has been overwhelmed on occasion.