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Single Idea 17219
[filed under theme 23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / f. Compassion
]
Full Idea
He who is moved neither by reason nor pity to be of any service to others is properly called inhuman; for he seems to be unlike a man.
Gist of Idea
A person unmoved by either reason or pity to help others is rightly called 'inhuman'
Source
Baruch de Spinoza (The Ethics [1675], IV Pr 50)
Book Ref
Spinoza,Benedict de: 'Ethics', ed/tr. White,WH/Stirling,AH [Wordsworth 2001], p.200
A Reaction
Calling someone 'inhuman' doesn't seem like much of a condemnation. Nietzschean aristocrats may take pride in being above the mere 'human'. We gather here that if reason failed to motivate helping others, then pity would be a good thing.
Related Ideas
Idea 17218
People who live according to reason should avoid pity [Spinoza]
Idea 17223
Pity is not a virtue, but at least it shows a desire to live uprightly [Spinoza]
The
20 ideas
with the same theme
[sympathetic concern for others' pain]:
5857
|
The young feel pity from philanthropy, but the old from self-concern
[Aristotle]
|
5890
|
We should not share the distress of others, but simply try to relieve it
[Cicero]
|
4022
|
Epictetus says we should console others for misfortune, but not be moved by pity
[Epictetus, by Taylor,C]
|
23365
|
If someone is weeping, you should sympathise and help, but not share his suffering
[Epictetus]
|
17218
|
People who live according to reason should avoid pity
[Spinoza]
|
17219
|
A person unmoved by either reason or pity to help others is rightly called 'inhuman'
[Spinoza]
|
4857
|
Pity is a bad and useless thing, as it is a pain, and rational people perform good deeds without it
[Spinoza]
|
17223
|
Pity is not a virtue, but at least it shows a desire to live uprightly
[Spinoza]
|
19766
|
The fact that we weep (e.g. in theatres) shows that we are naturally compassionate
[Rousseau]
|
7674
|
Generosity and pity are vices, because they falsely imply one person's superiority to another
[Kant, by Berlin]
|
2879
|
In ancient Rome pity was considered neither good nor bad
[Nietzsche]
|
4425
|
The overcoming of pity I count among the noble virtues
[Nietzsche]
|
4275
|
You cannot advocate joyful wisdom while rejecting pity, because the two are complementary
[Scruton on Nietzsche]
|
4407
|
Plato, Spinoza and Kant are very different, but united in their low estimation of pity
[Nietzsche]
|
20112
|
Pity consoles those who suffer, because they see that they still have the power to hurt
[Nietzsche]
|
14821
|
Apart from philosophers, most people rightly have a low estimate of pity
[Nietzsche]
|
18328
|
Invalids are parasites
[Nietzsche]
|
21026
|
Compassion is unreliable, because it favours people close to us
[Nussbaum]
|
23118
|
Awareness of others' suffering doesn't create an obligation to help
[Kekes]
|
4283
|
Sympathy can undermine the moral order just as much as crime does
[Scruton]
|