The etymology of
compassion is Latin, meaning "co-suffering." Compassion involves "feeling for another" and is a precursor to
empathy, the "feeling as another" capacity for better person-centered acts of active compassion. Active
compassion is the wish to alleviate another's suffering.
Compassion motivates people to go out of their way to help alleviate the physical, mental, or emotional pains of another and themselves. It is often regarded as having sensitivity, an emotional aspect to suffering; however, when based on cerebral notions such as fairness, justice, and interdependence, it may be considered rational in nature and its application understood as an activity also based on sound judgment.
Compassion involves allowing ourselves to be moved by suffering, and experiencing the motivation to help alleviate and prevent it.
An act of compassion is defined by its usefulness.
Qualities of compassion are patience and wisdom; kindness and perseverance; warmth and resolve.
It is often, though not inevitably, the key component in what manifests in the social context as
altruism (the principle or practice of concern for the welfare of others).
The difference between
sympathy and
compassion is that the former responds to suffering with sorrow and concern, while the latter responds with warmth and care.
See reference for more information. Adapted from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Internet. Accessed on May 2, 2018