Comments on: Is There a Difference Between Empathy and Compassion?

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By: Evan

Evan — Wed, 20 May 2009 21:01:46 +0000

Well put. Thanks for your comment Aditya.

By: Aditya

Aditya — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:39:00 +0000

Hi Evan!

It seems to me that empathy is simply the ability to see and feel the world through another’s eyes, regardless of whether we desire to relieve their pain. Compassion, on the other hand, seems to require the latter but not the former (although it certainly helps!).

Cheers!
A

By: Evan

Evan — Wed, 13 May 2009 08:20:45 +0000

Hi Albert, the ‘feel your pain’ kind of thing I call “sympathy”. If we genuinely want to help I think it is important to not get overwhelmed by someone’s pain (no use to them or us). Thanks for your comment.

By: Albert | UrbanMonk.Net

Albert | UrbanMonk.Net — Wed, 13 May 2009 08:02:54 +0000

Hey Evan, I think you’re right. Empathy doesn’t necessarily include action, and compassion does. However, according to some people, empathy involves feeling the other person’s pain, and compassion recognises it but does not necessarily “join in”. In other words, one is “I feel your pain”, and the other is “I acknowledge your pain, what can I do?”. Based on some of the emails I have received, there appears to be a misunderstanding towards the first, which is illogical if you think about it. Like if someone has burnt their hand, would you burn your hand too, before bandaging theirs, just to know what it feels like? Or would it be wiser to simply take care of yourself and treat the wound as best you can?