As a social worker, I’m all about empathy and the importance of teaching this “skill” to young kids.  This NY Times article brings up some interesting points about the importance of empathy, while also pointing out that empathy alone is not nearly enough:

“If you want to make the world a better place, help people debate, understand, reform, revere and enact their codes. Accept that codes conflict.”   

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/30/opinion/brooks-the-limits-of-empathy.html?_r=1&emc=eta1