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For other uses, see Apathy (disambiguation).
Apathy is a state of indifference — where an individual has an absence of interest or concern to certain aspects of emotional, social, or physical life.
Apathy can be object-specific — toward a person, activity or environment. It is a common reaction to stress where it manifests as "learned helplessness" and is commonly associated with depression.
ap·a·thy /ˈæpəθi/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ap-uh-thee] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –noun, plural -thies. 1. absence or suppression of passion, emotion, or excitement. 2. lack of interest in or concern for things that others find moving or exciting. 3. Also, ap·a·thei·a, ap·a·thi·a /ˌæpəˈθiə/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ap-uh-thee-uh] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation. Stoicism. freedom from emotion of any kind.
[Origin: 1595–1605; (< F) < L apathīa < Gk apátheia insensibility to suffering, equiv. to apathe- (s. of apaths) unfeeling (a- a-6 + pathe-, var. s. of páthos pathos) + -ia -ia]
—Synonyms 1. coolness. 2. See indifference.
—Antonyms 1. ardor, fervor.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
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Apathy is a common feeling of complete discontent (dissatisfaction, i.e. not satisfied) for one\'s emotional behavior.
Apathy etymologically derives from the Greek απάθεια (apatheia), a term used by the Stoics to signify indifference for what one is not responsible for (that is, according to their philosophy, all things exterior, one being only responsible of his representations and judgments). The concept was then reappropriated by Christians, who adopted the term to express a contempt of all earthly concerns, a state of mortification, as the gospel prescribes. Thus, the word has been used since then among more devout writers. Clemens Alexandrinus, in particular, brought the term exceedingly in vogue, thinking hereby to draw the philosophers to Christianity, who aspired after such a sublime pitch of virtue. [1]
The concept of apathy became more sympathetically accepted in popular culture during the First World War, in which the appalling conditions of the Western Front led to apathy[citation needed] and shellshock amongst millions of soldiers. Many often had no emotion or thought process concerning killing/death in general. Most people that feel apathetic have, or are at the beginnings of, a severe depression. But this is not so in all cases, some people feel apathetic when they are angry, sad, or have mixed emotions. Some just feel apathetic when they really just don\'t care about the person, or what is going on at the time.
2. Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
The Roots of Apathy - Essay By David O. Solmitz
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