When I see "empathy" nine times out of ten I read "virtue signaling." Many people claim to be empathetic but actually that is only as deep as what they are empa

When I see "empathy" nine times out of ten I read "virtue signaling." Many people claim to be empathetic but actually that is only as deep as what they are empathising with. If it harmonises with their world view then they have empathy. How many people have empathy for the Taliban? To me having a realistic theory of others minds is useful. Empathy less so. I also wonder how much empathy is actually projection. I mean empathy is you (think you) can feel as others do but how do you know you are actually not just feeling one way and assuming the others do too.