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Khen Lampert (; born 1957) is an Israel educator and a philosopher, Professor of behavioral-sciences, who teaches Philosophy, History, Cultural Studies and Education. Author: Khen Lampert He has extensive experience working with children in underprivileged neighborhoods in Israel, both Jewish and Arab. Lampert is an important contributor to philosophy-of-culture and education. http://www.text.org.il/index.php?book=0804084 His work draws from a wide range of theoretical traditions extending from Karl Marx to Paulo Freire; from Buddhism to modern Christianity; from Herbert Marcuse to Heinz Kohut. He is an advocate of radical-non-violent social-activism vigorously opposing neoliberalism (which he terms as ‘neocapitalism’),Lampert, K, 2008. Empathic Education - A Critique of Neocapitalism; ; militarism, fundamentalism, and the post-modern attacks against the Welfare state, the youth and the poor. Lampert's important work focuses on the ‘Theory of Radical Compassion’, a term he coined to describe the nature of an alternative socio-educational reality. According to Lampert, a conception of radical compassion, based on the imperative to change reality, is not only necessary, but possible, as radical compassion is rooted deep in our human nature and is not mediated by culture.Lampert K., Traditions of Compassion: From Religious Duty to Social Activism, Palgrave-Macmillan, 2006; ; pp 150-175
In light of these comparative analyzes, Lampert offers his "Theory of Radical-Compassion" – radical-compassion is an empathic state of consciousness that generates the imperative for the praxis of change and combat other's suffering. According to Lampert, Radical Compassion is a natural tendency of human organism, which has been historically oppressed by culture (as opposed to common cultural theories, e.g. the Freudian perception of natural tendencies as primarily selfish, and the understanding of empathy as a superimposition of culture).
Philosophy of education: in his book Empathic education – a critique of neo-capitalism (published in Hebrew 2008), Lampert extends his social criticism. He analyses the post-modern education system and argues that social exclusion, alienation and failure is an inherent part of a social reproduction ideology. The critical analysis reveals the gap between the smug self-image of those engaged in education, and the harsh and violent face of the system, of which teachers are victims as much as students. As an alternative, Lampert offers a return to the roots of educational practice; i.e. the human-encounter based on our natural empathy, especially in its radical form. This type of resistance, means a radical change in school, that like other cultural institutions, is built to keep us all away from authentic human encounter.
Philosophy of Emotions: In his book A Language of Empathy (Tel Aviv University Press 2022), Lampert offers a comprehensive philosophical and historical analysis of the concept of empathy in its various theoretical manifestations. Lampert's analysis expands the classical phenomenological position, that identifies empathy with a direct perception of the mental states of others and adds to it caring as a necessary identifier. According to Lampert, the requirement for conceptualization that subordinates our perceptions to language and culture, "subverts" and weakens our ability to sense others, but at the same time allows for the formulation of an moral position, which Lampert identifies with the Ethics of care.
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