Whole Class Discussion: Are you convinced?

In this discussion forum, post your thoughts on this idea that the novel is a way to build empathy. Why are you convinced? Maybe you personally have experience with gaining empathy through reading stories. I know I have. Some of our novels we are reading this semester have made me cry (and at least one of them made me uncontrollably sob). But does gaining empathy really transfer to the ruling elite also want to fight for the rights of others as Hunt suggests? 

If you are not convinced or think any empathy gained is superficial in nature, why do you hold that position? Another possibility (as noted above) is that maybe you agree the novel inspires empathy in the reader but certainly had nothing to do with the growth of human rights (thus disagreeing with Lynn Hunt's hypothesis). Discuss. It is ok to be skeptical here. In fact, it is absolutely encouraged.