 the chauffeur. It doesn’t seem to make any sense at all.
But to Adam Smith it would. Robert and Tom are trapped into conversing and spending time together. These simple interactions cause them to gradually get to know one another. The result is that they are more readily able to empathize with each other. That chance to learn empathy is crucial to how we understand people and our place in society, according to The Theory of Moral Sentiments.
Think of those who we are closest to: our families. Our connections to them are stronger than to our friends, and so is our ability to empathize with them. It’s more than mere biology, it’s social circumstance. As people are more and more distant from us, they are more and more difficult to relate to. As they come closer to us (in both physical and emotional distance) we can more readily enter into their passions and dispositions. Over time we learn how to relate to this new person in our social sphere, and attachments can subsequently form. Our ability to empathize with them becomes stronger, and we are more able to imagine ourselves in their shoes. This is exactly what happens with Robert and Tom.
It is through conversations, discussions, and arguments, that they finally come to care for one another. Eventually they even become business partners, recognizing each other (to some degree), as equals. This relationship is between the two of them, outside and independent of their relationships with Sybil, who initially forced them together.
Adam Smith’s best friend was David Hume, who spoke of how important it was to stay grounded in the world in ways unconnected to our professions. He wrote fondly of playing backgammon with his friends. The dinners and cocktails that Robert and Tom share provide much the same opportunity. Regardless of our values, our worldviews and opinions, even our social class, we can find things in common if we make the effort to spend time together--or if we feel obligated to, as in the case of Robert and Tom. We can relate even to those with whom we disagree the most, if given the opportunity and circumstance. Neither Robert nor Tom was forced to compromise his principles or integrity to get along. They retained their individuality, while developing and fostering the ability to relate. They were able to see one another as individuals, deserving of mutual respect and integrity. In turn, they grew as individuals and became better people for it.
Downton Abbey can give us a glimpse into how we can connect with one another better, despite the most substantial of differences. The idea of getting along with people is one Smith held dear. He wrote that:
...to feel much for others, and little for ourselves, that to restrain our selfish, and to indulge our benevolent, affections, constitutes the perfection of human nature; and can alone produce among mankind that harmony of sentiments and passions in which consists their whole grace and propriety.
Ultimately, by looking at the unusual and unlikely friendship of Robert Crawley and Tom Branson, we can exactly what Smith describes. And if we ourselves try harder to connect with those we initially perceive as being impossible to relate to, we may find ourselves in a world where everyone can feel a little more loved and lovely.
Discussion Questions
1. What other relationships in Downton Abbey and other popular culture can show us how we can get along with those from whom we are different?
2. What can Smith’s ideas show us about the importance of discourse for equality in our society? How does this relate to the importance of a commercial society contrasted with other types of economic systems?
3. Are there situations where our values and opinions are too diametrically opposed, where we are unable to develop a stronger empathy with a stranger?
4. Does social class still present the same barrier to empathy today as it did in the early 1900’s?
Sandy Ikeda
Nice essay, Shal, congratulations! As a fan of DA I can affirm your observations on how Robert and Tom's relationship evolved. I might add that Tom also helps to bring Robert out of feudalism when he (and Mary) convince Robert to start running Downton Abby according to modern business principles. I look forward to your next piece!
Shal Marriott
Hey Sandy,
Thank you for reading! I think you're absolutely right. I also think that what the shift away from feudalism demonstrates, is that we are better able to change the minds of people once we are able to more strongly empathize with them. This can have positive impact not only for an individual, but for the society they are contributing to. The microcosm of the Downton estate is a great example of this.At Susans Bakery we believe that a healthy start to your work day is very important. We love being specialist in making a buffet to suit your early morning meetings and can have any breakfast requests delivered to your door as early as 7.30 am.
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Call now to speak to one of the team or Order Now.One of my students in the Intentional Communication Certification class asked what the difference is between blame and accountability. I think it’s a great question and so I’m sharing here why it is the blame blocks us from speaking in a way that’s kind, honest, and helpful, and how holding someone accountable does not.
Would love to know your thoughts as well.
Thought I would post this here since it gets asked quite a bit, and may possibly be asked more in the future. Credit to Everstake for creating this guide.
The blockchain industry is known for many negative situations related to cyberattacks and the corresponding loss of funds. It is caused by a relatively easy way to steal private keys through keylogging, code bugs, computer hacking and much more.
Enter ‘ICON’ into the app catalog search bar.
Click on the ‘Install’ button and confirm your operation on the Ledger device as well.
After the successful installation you have to open the Chrome and aforementioned ICONex extension.
When you click on the ICONex icon you will be transferred immediately to the wallet authentication menu.
In the pop-up menu click on the ‘Connect’ button.
It’s very important to note, that users who have Windows 10 operating systems may face well-known connectivity issues, which won’t allow you to connect a few times.
To resolve this problem, you simply have to click on the ‘Connect’ button several times, and only then Windows Security will allow authentication.
Users who have macOS or Linux installed on their computers won’t trigger the same problem.
In the following menu, you will be able to choose the desired deposit address where you can send your ICX.
Once you made a deposit, click on the address with a positive balance, and you will be transferred to the main menu of the ICONex wallet.
In the main you will be able to see basic voting analytics related to active P-Reps, Sub P-Reps, Candidates. And also you can keep track of the current Delegated Voting Power proportional to the Total ICX Supply.
Click on the ‘My Status’ section.
In the ‘My Status’ section you can stake/unstake ICX, or vote/unvote for P-Reps. Also, you can keep track of your balances, votes, and I-Score.
In case you are new to the ICON ecosystem, the I-Score represents a reward that every user gets for the ICX staking. In many other PoS(Proof-of-Stake) blockchain networks you will find that users who stake their tokens receive rewards in the form of those tokens that they staked in the first place. Where I-Score as a reward has to be claimed or exchanged for ICX tokens, and it can be performed directly in the ‘My Status’ menu.
We’d like to emphasize that anytime you can adjust your stake or current votes, simply by clicking on the corresponding buttons.
It’s important to mention that users