Is compassion a Strength or a weakness?

Discussion in 'Human Science' started by Challenger78, May 3, 2009.

?

Compassion is a..

  1. Strength

    21 vote(s)
    87.5%
  2. Weakness

    3 vote(s)
    12.5%
  1. Challenger78 Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    7,536
    Compassion prevents one from being completely merciless and fully committed to the task, whether it be rising up the corporate ladder, or killing somebody in Iraq.
    Compassion prevents swiftness of action and encourages fragile mindsets.
    Compassion isn't manly or useful when there are so many dangers out in the world.
    Compassion is only required for those that are weak, because they need others to support them.

    I can think of many arguments why it's a weakness, but not many why it's a strength.. yet I know instinctively that I can't not be compassionate, or rather I can't be completely detached. It's not in my nature.

    The question is, should I minimise it's effects on me as a weakness, or should I instead look at it as a strength ?
    Where have you found compassion to be a strength or a weakness ?

    Forgive me for adding only two options. I needed a definitive answer.
     
  2. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  3. Tnerb Banned Banned

    Messages:
    7,917
    That's a hard question.

    I have found having compassion to help when dealing with people who have problems like say for example my grandmother or something. I have compassion in that I know that I don't wish to hurt her feelings and let her know how I feel because if I tell her how I feel about what she's doing she's gonna jump. It's a sense of responsibility.

    Minimize it's effects on you as a weakness by all means, but it's a strength.
    You got to have compassion...... But sometimes it's really weak. It's a hard question I can't really answer much better right now.
     
  4. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  5. codanblad a love of bridges Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,397
    my argument depends a lot on the importance of 'what doesn't kill me makes me stronger', but i think its a strength, if more people were more compassionate we'd be more unified, and less insecure.

    its a weakness when you let people take advantage of you, or if you place too much importance on being compassionate, and sacrifice something else.
     
    Last edited: May 3, 2009
  6. Google AdSense Guest Advertisement



    to hide all adverts.
  7. Anti-Flag Pun intended Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    3,714
    A strength if everyone shares it in equal measure, a weakness if you are more compassionate than those around you, mostly for the reasons you outlined.
     
  8. Mrs.Lucysnow Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    9,879
    I think its utter nonsense to go so far as to say that compassion does not allow you to be a warrior when needed. Do you think all seasoned soldiers devoid of empathy and compassion? They show it off and on the field. Do you think the only way to be a competitive leader in business means to employ tactics devoid of care for the environment and employees? Because this is also not true though we do hear of the bad ones more often. The ability to 'feel with another' to empathize is not simply a civility it is what keeps us in touch with our humanity.
     
  9. justwonderingjoe Gosh,the weather is nice today Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    386
    Wiki definition: Compassion is a profound human emotion prompted by the pain of others.
    Like a Doctor who treats a patient, he has compassion. Like an EMT on the scene of an accident...
    I wouldn't call those people weak, I would call them strong. IMO people that have a huge amounts of compassion aren't weak. They are super strong.
     
  10. Challenger78 Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    7,536
    I see, It's the ability to help, and not simply turn away from suffering that counts ?

    Our humanity seems to be represented by an amoral society devoid of compassion.
    If compassion is such an admired value, why do we lose it when we congregate in groups ? Should it not be instead amplified?, i.e. corporations of large people should be more compassionate than an individual ?
     
  11. Norsefire Salam Shalom Salom Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    11,529
    It is a weakness, however it is still good that some humans have a bit of it.
     
  12. justwonderingjoe Gosh,the weather is nice today Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    386
     
  13. Tnerb Banned Banned

    Messages:
    7,917
    Having compassion for people is important though even if you think it's a weakness........... Why? Because, one needs to be able to sympathize with another viewpoint, or perspective, perhaps from a position at times of superiority I hear the Buddhists talk about this all the time. They say to exercise compassion to achieve the desire result of empathizing with another perspective. That it is useful for the persons weakness to be able to empathize with such suffering around him. At least it would be a building block IMO to achieving action. Albeit not necessary maybe:shrug:
     
  14. Mrs.Lucysnow Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    9,879
    Challenger: Our humanity seems to be represented by an amoral society devoid of compassion.
    If compassion is such an admired value, why do we lose it when we congregate in groups ? Should it not be instead amplified?, i.e. corporations of large people should be more compassionate than an individual ?

    Why do you assume compassion is amplified in groups? Institutions don't have compassion even if they are charitable. I can only think of compassion in terms of the individual, its an intensly personal display of kinship with another human being and life in general. You ask why some people have lost it assuming they ever had it. I think culture and society can make it difficult to display compassion but its happening here and there among people you know and don't in very unexpected ways. Also I do not think its a normal state of affairs to walk around filled with compassion on a daily basis, there are simply moments of compassion, a gracious phenomenon.
     
  15. Japarican Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    148
    Depends what your compassion about.
     
  16. Challenger78 Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    7,536
    An intensely personal display...
    So it's an individualistic trait, hence more likely to be a weakness, right ?..

    It pays to care, but not too much.
     
  17. justwonderingjoe Gosh,the weather is nice today Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    386
    Are you trying to say: to help someone i.e. to show compassion, is a weakness?
     
  18. codanblad a love of bridges Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,397
    compassion is needed for unity and there's strength in unity. fighting for loved ones is a powerful motivation.
     
  19. cosmictraveler Be kind to yourself always. Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    33,264
    Showing compassion to those who you have had problems with is a sign of very good character and strength. Look at what happened after World War 2
    when the allies helped Japan and Germany rebuild their countries as an example. What do you think would have become of those countries without the compassion of the allies after the war was over?
     
  20. Mrs.Lucysnow Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    9,879
    No not a weakness. A healthy individual is not self-effacing as they will also have compassion for themselves (something not all people display towards themselves). I think that compassion is best shown one on one yes. I dont consider it necessarily a show of compassion to put a $50 check in a charity box but to involve yourself personally in someones life whom you know needs your help is. You do it not out of pity nor self-righteousness but a sense of 'co-feeling', the original meaning of the word. To feel in tandem
    out of empathy, even if you haven't been in that particular situation yourself, because you understand their feeling of despair or helplessness. It shouldn't be shaming but a form of respect for the human condition.
     
  21. wynn ˙ Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    15,058
    There is compassion that is informed by wisdom, and then there is idiot compassion. Google "idiot compassion".

    People generally have a tendency toward compassion, but many lack wisdom on how to act on it wisely, so what comes out is often enough just the opposite of what was intended.

    IOW, compassion is not the problem. Lacking wisdom is.
     
  22. Challenger78 Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    7,536
    Yes. Does it not divert effort from you ?, or what could benefit you ?
     
  23. cosmictraveler Be kind to yourself always. Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    33,264
    Not really because it only takes a few minutes many times to help someone else in their time of need. How is a few minutes of your life helping others going to adversely affect you?
     

Share This Page