Empathy will save us in the end?

Jeremy Rifkin has a new book out called 'the Empathic Civilization'. I haven't read the book, but he published an interesting article in the Huffington Post which appears to be a summary of his main arguments. It's a bit grandiose. Empathy is going to save us from geopolitics and connect us to Mother Earth. That would be lovely, but I'm skeptical. Empathy can often go awry. As in, "Oh I know just what you're feeling". No you don't. And you don't have to usurp my experience to feel our common humanity. To be moved. Moved into walking with me, struggling with me. Still, the article is well worth the quick read.