This paper aims to understand why human beings develop empathetic attitudes towards robots. Whilst much research studies this issue from the perspective of the natural sciences, by referring to biological features of the human brain, it is also possible to investigate it from the perspective of the humanities by referring to humans' cultural features. After establishing animation as a necessary condition of empathy towards robots, the presentation delivers a hypothesis that magical thinking – typical for children, members of “primitive” societies and individuals with mental disorders – is involved in the empathetic relations with robots. Furthermore, arguments to defend and clarify this hypothesis are presented.