Full Idea
Daniel Batson's important research has shown us that compassion is not reliable on its own, because it can easily give priority to people close to the self.
Gist of Idea
Compassion is unreliable, because it favours people close to us
Source
Martha Nussbaum (Creating Capabilities [2011], 8)
Book Reference
Nussbaum,Martha C.: 'Creating Capabilities' [Belknap Harvard 2013], p.180
A Reaction
In Britain animal charities receive vastly more money than children's charities, presumably for this very reason. Kittens - you've got to hate them.