Thread: Human Compassion

Why do we have it?
What good is it?
Would we be better off without it?
Is it invented or is it inherent to the human condition? ... We take it for granted that it should be part of our cultures, but why?
Specific examples of how members have found it beneficial or even an obstacle to their obvectives that would be interesting to hear. Even more interesting would be trying to break down rationally, what the purpose of compassion is to us.

Have at 'er!

True compassion doesn't exist. Everything we do is as a result of the selfish gene. We show compassion because, at an unconscious level, we know it will bring approval and elevate our own standing amongst our peers, thereby promoting one's own genes by attracting loads of compassion-seeking women.

OK, that last part was a bit much, but I do think Richard Dawkins has a point when he discusses altrusim (which I'm kind of equating or linking to 'compassion') as not really existing. We just want to make ourselves look good, is all.

Originally Posted by majurey

True compassion doesn't exist. Everything we do is as a result of the selfish gene. We show compassion because, at an unconscious level, we know it will bring approval and elevate our own standing amongst our peers, thereby promoting one's own genes by attracting loads of compassion-seeking women.

OK, that last part was a bit much, but I do think Richard Dawkins has a point when he discusses altrusim (which I'm kind of equating or linking to 'compassion') as not really existing. We just want to make ourselves look good, is all.

I don't disagree with you, but....there are some people (very few) in our world that are able to have compassion w/o the need for approval or recognition. I'll admit they are very, very rare. To give anonomosly and care for the the "unfortunates", is the true test of having real compassion.

It's called humility.

Steve

I tend to disagree. There are people, granted few, who do have compassion. Most of those people go around anonymous tho. There are Doctors, Nurses, and other people who help with reservation medicine on a daily bases. these type people work in rural medicine clinics, Small Hospitals, they definitely do not do it for the money.

Phil

Not the money, no. But maybe for the standing it gives them within their social surroundings? After all, you have pretty much professed your admiration for such people in less lucrative and more difficult roles. Maybe they want admiration and the best way to get it is by acting admirably! At a subconcious or even unconscious level they are attracted to such behaviour even if at a conscious level they believe they are doing it out of their own sense of altruism. Dawkins' argument is that we are genetically compelled to think we are doing good and that so-called selfless acts do actually have some pay-off of some sort or another for the individual.

It is, of course, impossible to argue for or against (like the religion question) but it certainly makes you wonder. Perhaps Mother Theresa deep down craved the saintly praise she received and subconsciously thought her chances of gaining eternal bliss after death was to behave as she did.

We do good things to get to heaven. But I ask you this: why do we wish to get to heaven? Because ultimately it's good for me, the individual doing good things.

The selfish gene. Damned if it doesn't also explain religion!

I agree with majurey's proposition in general... ie, it's all about recognition/gratification in some way. But I feel that for many people it can be just a self rewarding thing... ie, the gratification doesn't necessarily need to garner any praise or recognition from others.

Compassion is an evolved human emotional behavior that exists in the species because for whatever reason it helped increase the odds for survival. Think about it, most of the accomplishments of our species were made possible by our ability to cooperate in societies. Thus, social skills are a plus for survival just like physical strength and agility. How much compassion is the right amount to have? Like all other inherited behaviors, nature is always experimenting; testing a wide spectrum and letting the circumstances decide who survives to pass on traits.

Oh boy. On one hand, I wish you had not raised the question. The reason I say this is, I could never narrow the plethora of information into a concise response. I have neither the time nor skill. Suffice it to say, compassion is one of the core principles of Buddhism. It is generally defined as the desire to alleviate the suffering of others as well as oneself. There are different types of suffering and reasons for them, but there are also ways to eliminate suffering. Through compassion towards ourselves and others, we practice principles that work toward reducing and eliminating suffering. There is an innate potential for compassion, but we also know that it must be cultivated, just like other skillful means. Like was said here, one can feed greed, hatred, and delusions, or one can feed, generoscity, loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. For many hours of material on the subject, search this site: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/index.html. A few places to start if truely interested: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/a...ka/whyend.html http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/a...ompassion.html and http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/a.../nutshell.html.

Brief outline of a few ideas...then I'm staying out of this.

1) compassion exists and is inherent in the human condition because it is a value god blessed us with.

2) Compassion is a method to ensure the survival of the specieis and so is in herent in the human condition.

3) Compassion is the expression of selfishness (even compassion resulting in death) because it is hoped that the act would be returned if the situation was reversed.

4) Compassion is not inherent to humans, it is a learned behavior, valued by our society but not others.

5) Compassion is an attempt to impress others, even if it results in death, it will ensure you a place of honor which is more important than life to others.


Thats it, I'm out.

Yeah, Todd. We don't always view virtues or emotions as active skill sets here in the western world, but it's very true. People can tell you they feel love for you, but unless they show it through an action like a hug or an act of kindness, it's still just a promise.

I remember saying to one of my brothers, tears ago when he was living on the road and had come to crash on my couch with a buddy that my roommates were feeling anxious because he didn't respect our space. He protested that he did, and I told him to show it. They continued to eat all our food until it earned him a punch in the head. He left the next day. Compassion had run out.

As for you Mr. Patton
1) Replace 'god blessed' with 'nature endowed' (which is the intended meaning anyhow) and I agree 100%

2) I can see that.

3) I think you're smoking crack. I used to think my desire to see others happy because I enjoyed it was a kind of selfishness, but I'm convinced it's not. This is how compassion is ingrained. It breeds happiness in ourselves. We feel good about our sacrifice even to the point of death.

4) I think it must be learned to some degree, or more precisely cultivated. The wolf I feed. But I can't think of or even imagine a society which doesn't value it.

5) Naw. That's a tactical maneuver designed to improve one's position without a feeling of pleasure through altruistic action. It's not the same thing.

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