Nature of Compassion

This book unravel the nature of Compassion by looking at the following set of question in realtion to the Western (Aristotle, Aquinas and Nussbaum) and Indian Philosphy (Buddhism and Sikhism); 'Is compassion the same as or distinct from pity, sympathy/empathy, love and benvolence?, Does compassion involves pain and sorrow?', or, 'Does the compassionate subject suffer with same intensity the sufferer himself suffers? 'Is compassion only a response towards serious suffering, or it is also a response towards non serious suffering?, 'How does the compassionate subject make a relationship with the sufferer?',' Is compassion a virtue or an emotion?',' Is compassion a part of human isntinct or is it learnt through practice?',' Is there or can there be one universal understanding of the term compassion?'

Introduction

The present research work "Nature of Compassion; A Philodophical Analysis", aims to discern the nature of compassion through the comparative study of some Western and Indian philosphical traditions.

Compassion can be considered as one cornerstone of greater social interconnection and humanity in society. Human beings exist within relationships. They are born dependent. Right from the very birth, they need protection and care. As they grow up they require relationship with others for their survival (e.g., food shelter and reproduction). Generally speaking, compassion is regarded as helping human beings function in these relationship with greater harmony, hence further contributing to their survival. And not merely to survival, it even to an extent underlies law and order in society.

Compassion has been a matter of considerable importance ever since the faculty of thought in humans developed.