Although sensations are individual, compassion allows us to understand and empathize with the suffering of others, which is an important factor in shaping morality and achieving social harmony.
Strictly speaking, in no case can the sensations I feel be shared with others, because they arise through my physical body. My body belongs only to me, and therefore the sensations that arise in my body cannot be transferred beyond my body to the body of another. For this reason, we cannot, in principle, share any sensation with another person. Sensations are individual and temporary. Therefore, if we are overly sensitive to our own sensations of pain or pleasure, we are prone to get caught up in our own individuality. In other words, excessive sensitivity to pleasure and pain can make a person self-centered and selfish. We may cause others to suffer in order to avoid suffering ourselves.
This individuality and limitation of the senses also has important implications for social relationships. When individuals focus on their own senses, it becomes difficult for them to empathize or cooperate with others. This can lead to conflict and discord in all areas of life, including home, work, and friendships. Therefore, it is necessary for individuals to pay attention to the sensations and experiences of others, rather than focusing solely on their own senses. This attitude is an important factor in promoting community harmony and cooperation. In addition, overcoming sensory individuality in social relationships is essential for building communication and solidarity with others based on trust and understanding.
What, then, enables us to have a sensitivity to universal pain and universal pleasure, without becoming self-absorbed in our sensations of pain and pleasure? According to David Hume, it is a fundamental capacity that is inherent in our minds: compassion. The English word “sympathy” comes from the Greek word “sympatheia,” which is a combination of the preposition “syn,” meaning “like,” and the word “pathos,” meaning “feeling” or “sentiment. In other words, sympathize means to share pathos, especially the emotion of sadness or pain.
Because our sensory capacities are universal, another person’s pain can trigger a similar response in our minds through outward signs such as facial expressions, gestures, or sounds. Although we can’t feel the pain of another person exactly, we can indirectly imagine and guess how they feel. This capacity for sensory empathy is a fundamental bonding force in human society. Historically, compassion has played an important role in shaping the moral foundations of human societies. For example, many people spontaneously lend a helping hand in times of war or disaster, which is an act of compassion. Compassion has also been an important theme in literature and art. Through literary and artistic works, we can understand the feelings of others and develop a deeper sense of empathy.
When we imagine someone else’s pain, we form a mental image of it in our minds. If we are highly sensitive, or if the sight of suffering is particularly horrifying, the mental shadow of suffering can feel as vivid and intense as if it were the suffering itself. Feeling another’s suffering, whether strongly or weakly, is compassion. In short, the sensitivity to suffering that the suffering of others arouses in one’s heart is compassion. Compassion enriches individual lives and strengthens social relationships.
Compassion also plays an important role in education. Through education, we can cultivate compassion and develop the ability to understand the feelings of others. For example, through various volunteer and community activities, schools can teach students to understand the pain and pleasure of others and learn the value of living together. This kind of education can help students practice caring and empathy for others as adults.
This compassion, which is inherent in all human beings, is the true basis of morality. Morality is predicated on concern for others. But if we are only sensitive to our own pleasures and pains and indifferent to the joys and sorrows of others, morality is impossible from the start. Only a person who is as reluctant to see others suffer as he is to avoid suffering himself, and who seeks the joy of others as he seeks his own joy, can be a moral person.
Therefore, compassion is an important factor in promoting personal moral growth. Through compassion, we can understand the feelings and experiences of others and create a more inclusive and collaborative society. This has a positive impact not only on individual happiness, but also on the happiness and prosperity of the whole society. When we understand and empathize with each other’s pain and pleasure, we can build a better world. In the end, compassion is a key virtue for sustainable development and peace in our society.
