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“Humanism and Compassion”
Presented by Karen Lynn
What is compassion?
Compassion is an emotion, not a philosophical construction.
“Compassion is a word we use frequently in everyday conversation, but it is rarely used with anything close to philosophical precision. Indeed, one could go so far as to say we have lost the meaning of the word. As we generally use it, “compassion” appears in similar contexts with words such as “empathy,” “sympathy…” Compassion and Moral Guidance on JSTOR
Philosophers try to pin it down by associating it with happiness (the Utilitarians), good will (Kant), Confucius and others. Yet it is a powerful idea that we value and use in argumentation regularly.
Brene brown compares empathy with sympathy. Brene' Brown - Empathy vs Sympathy and the Power of Connection (youtube.com)
Helen Riess, author of The Empathy Effect (2018), explains the neurology:
“When we see someone in pain … pain pathways in our own brains light up, though to a lesser degree. This is the emotional part of empathy — sometimes called emotional resonance… [Your] sophisticated neurological system allows you to observe others hurting and gives you just enough of a taste of the pain to consider helping them out.”
So yes, we are hard-wired for “emotional resonance”.
There seems to be a modern understanding that a compassionate life is a better life. Even Paul Bloom supports compassion, but argues against empathy because it is “innumerate and irrational”. Paul Bloom: Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion (youtube.com) I strongly recommend that you watch this Bloom video.
Some progressive thinkers suggest that if we only could get back to the real meaning of our religions, we would be better off; there would be fewer wars etc. For example, Chris Hedges, a well-known progressive Presbyterian minister (who states that there is no evidence that Jesus existed) says that
The Christmas story is about learning how to be human, about kneeling before a newborn infant who is helpless, vulnerable, despised and poor. It is about inverting the world’s values. It is about understanding that the religious life—and this life can be lived with or without a religious creed—calls on us to protect and nurture the least among us, those demonized and rejected. www.truthdig.com/articles/what-christmas-means
But humanists know that you don’t need religion to be compassionate.
Humanist References:
Compassion, Empathy and Being a Humanist - TheHumanist.com
Definition of Humanism - American Humanist Association
“Humanism is a rational philosophy informed by science, inspired by art, and motivated by compassion”.
What is Humanism? - Humanist Canada
“Many people are Humanist without even knowing it. Humanists are motivated by ethics, compassion, and fairness, and guided by reason and scientific inquiry. We are inspired by history, art, music, literature, and the beauty of the natural world.”
Questions
1. How have you, an individual, been shaped by that religiosity that may have preceded you? Were there any advantages? How does the history of religion shape compassion?
2. In a secular society, how does religion direct the compassionate culture, policies and laws of contemporary society? Or does it?
3. Is it possible to be too compassionate?
4. Is contemporary Humanism too involved with naval gazing instead of being proactive in expressing compassion in practical ways?
5. Does Humanism need to become more formalized into bricks and mortar to provide practical applications of compassion? For example, to offer shelter, free meals, food banks etc.
6. So, what should humanists do? How do we evolve and become more relevant in the world?
Other Links
Noam Chomsky on Moral Relativism and Michel Foucault (youtube.com)
Noam Chomsky on Religion (youtube.com)
“American exceptionalism is a secular religion.”