I found it odd that the author seems to think that empathy for the individual is somehow at odds with caring for the many, instead of being closely correlated. As if removing empathy would somehow get people to care more about each other, rather than less.
I think the problem is less that we relate more to the few than the many, and more that we don't really relate to the many at all. Junking caring as much about individuals will likely just result in us not caring enough about anyone.