Compassion is the sadness that an individual feels for the bad situation faced by another living being (TDK, 2011). When we look at the Encyclopedia of Islam, it is seen that compassion means “feeling of pity, goodness and grace done with the effect of this feeling” (TDV, 2004).
Until today, many thinkers and writers have expressed the value of compassion from their own perspectives. For example, according to Arthur Schopenhauer, the philosopher of love and compassion, the only thing that can save people from egoism and evil is compassion. Schopenhauer defines compassion as “a value that will lead people to real justice and humanism” (Akın, 2018).
The Stoics, Spinoza and Kant, on the other hand, found the value of compassion unnecessary. JJ Rousseau (2020) in his work “The Source of Inequality Between Humans” emphasized how important compassion is for human beings and said that it is to prevent the other individual from suffering (Rousseau, 2020). Nietzsche, on the other hand, argued that such values detach the individual from reality and distance the individual from being himself (Ay, 2013).
According to A. Comte Sponville, the value of compassion can be said to guide us more effectively than religion or the advice of an important thinker. According to this idea, compassion has a universal quality (Dalgalı & Gürses, 2018).
According to our national value judgments, compassion is an important value that should be found in people and the state. Looking at the “Eight-Pointed Star”, the symbol of the Seljuk State, it is seen that eight principles are mentioned. These eight principles represent heaven, and compassion is one of them. Even today, it is possible to see these eight principles in the symbols and flags of many Turkish states, especially the Presidential Force of the Republic of Turkey.
In another example, Osman Bey, the founder of the Ottoman State, made his will to his son Orhan Bey, “Be merciful to everything that Allah has created.” He emphasized the importance of compassion (Hökelekli, 2013).
Compassion is the opposite of ruthlessness that takes pleasure in the sufferings of other individuals and selfishness that does not care about those sufferings. In addition to these, dry heart, coldness, harshness, insensitivity, indifference are the opposite meanings of compassion (Sponville, 2004).
THE IMPORTANCE OF MERCY
The healing aspect of compassion has been known for years. For example, Aristotle explains pain as “sadness, an emotional state that is a sign that something should be terminated or avoided” and defines pain as “pain of the soul” (Cited by Kara and Abay, 2000). Equality in suffering cannot be spoken of, but compassion teaches the equality of suffering. It explains that what happens to someone else can happen to us, too. As individuals, we are sensitive to suffering, and pain makes us vulnerable. In a world where each individual’s humanity is valued equally, only compassion can exist (MEB, 2017).
From this point of view, only compassion can enable us to review the equality between people and our shortcomings other than these equality, and to feel close to other individuals. When we think of a merciless world, we ignore many values such as empathy, benevolence, sensitivity, patience and trust. This is why in a merciless world, chaos reigns. Only individuals who lack love and compassion can stand against basic values such as cooperation and empathy. This can be considered as a sign of the extinction of the human being as a social creature.
In JJ Rousseau, he explained inequality with the concept of “private property” and said that we are witnessing the existence of an unequal world (Rousseau, 2020). Therefore, it is possible to call compassion “the cornerstone of equality”.
SCOPE OF MERCY
Compassion is a complex and multidimensional process. From this point of view, it is possible to say that compassion has a capacity and six basic inclusive features in this capacity, apart from the changes that compassion brings about in the brain in Western science. These characteristics are classified as motivation, sensitivity, non-judgment, empathy, tolerating distress and sympathy (Dalgalı & Gürses, 2018).
Motivation
It is the first step in helping others. It takes time to be compassionate. At the same time, it is possible to understand how and in which value system we see ourselves as motivated (Dalgalı and Gürses, 2018).
Sensitivity
Sensitivity is the opposite of ignoring. It is possible to evaluate individuals in need of help within the scope of distinguishing (Dalgalı and Gürses, 2018).
Sympathy
Compassion is the Greek word for “sympathy”. Sympathy arises more easily than compassion. It’s about experiencing the emotions of others. It is possible to explain sympathy as emotional commitment. For example, a child who cries because he has dropped his sugar is not pity but sympathy (Dalgalı & Gürses, 2018).
Tolerating Boredom
It is trying to overcome an existing or potential problem rather than ignoring it or avoiding it (Dalgalı and Gürses, 2018).
Empathy
It is essential to understand the sufferer from a cognitive and affective perspective. Although empathy is sometimes used as a counterpart to compassion, empathy does not involve action and motivation (Dalgalı & Gürses, 2018).
Non-Judgmental
Rather than humiliating or questioning the person experiencing distress, there is a need to accept it. According to Gilbert, it is the most difficult feature to achieve. It is necessary not to judge the person who needs mercy according to our own conditions (Dalgalı and Gürses, 2018).
DIMENSIONS AND SUB-VALUES OF MERCY
Many of the moral values are human and distant from other living things. The value of compassion, on the other hand, aims to establish sympathy with all living things that suffer from distress and grief. To give an example, the respect we have for an animal is very different from the respect we have for any human being. In the value of compassion, this situation is more equal (Sponville, 2004). In this context, compassion can be considered as “transition from ego system to ecosystem”. In other words, human beings transition from the value they show to their own existence to the value they show to all living things with compassion (Sayar, 2017).
From this point of view, many dimensions of compassion value can be listed under the sub-title. These can be classified as compassion for people, animals, the disabled, the elderly, children and minorities in the society.
Compassion for Human
It is the most comprehensive form of compassion. It also includes compassion for the elderly, children, family members, minorities and people with disabilities. It is the compassion shown by the human to the human again.
Animal Compassion
Compassion is one of the deepest values that a person feels towards a creature that is not himself. Apart from values such as respect and trust, as in the example given above, it is distinguished from other values with an egalitarian approach.
Compassion for the Elderly
It is a form of compassion that especially the peoples of Turkey show more than the peoples of other countries. It is expected that individuals who do not have any disadvantages in contrast to the elderly, who have a disadvantage, will be compassionate. For example, normal individuals who try to cross the street at a pedestrian crossing and do not experience any difficulties in this regard help the elderly individuals with compassion.
Compassion for the Child
The reflection of the value of compassion in children should be handled differently from other individuals and non-human creatures, both in terms of gaining and applying it. Compassion, which can be gained through best practice to lower age groups who do not have cognitive competence; At the same time, it is necessary to sincerely come to the aid of disadvantaged children, unlike normal individuals.
Compassion for Minorities
It is necessary to listen to the troubles and troubles of individuals who have different religions, races, views, thoughts and similar things in the society. Thus, the value of compassion within ourselves gains meaning, stemming from developing respect and tolerance for other individuals’ own ideas and way of life.
Compassion for the Disabled Person
Again, it is necessary to show mercy to individuals who need help and suffer because of their disadvantage in society. It is one of the most basic responsibilities of each individual to show mercy to these people, who, unlike normal individuals, have more problems in society and in their lives.
VALUES WITH RELATED TO MERCY
Gilbert explains compassion as a complex, multifaceted social and psychological process (Gilbert, 2013). When evaluated from this point of view, it is possible to talk about the existence of many values associated with it. Values such as sensitivity, benevolence, love, respect, tolerance, trust, patience, justice, responsibility and humility are values that have a very close relationship with compassion (Dalgalı & Gürses, 2018).
Helpfulness
Compassion is a prerequisite for helping people and other living things in pain and suffering. From this point of view, we can see that individuals in need of help can only be reached through compassion.
Love
It is possible to say that compassion is in a close relationship with love. Moral values and love are also shaped in the light of compassion (Schopenhauer, 2009). As a matter of fact, one cannot show mercy to a person or another living thing without love.
Respect
In order to show mercy to a person or another living thing, it is necessary to accept its existence. Acceptance of this existence is also gained through respect. In other words, in order to have mercy on a living thing or a person, it is essential to show respect to that creature or person.
Tolerance
The prerequisite of being able to be compassionate is to be able to accept the person in front of us as we are. So much so that an intolerant individual cannot be merciful to another individual. He or she cannot fully understand the other person’s shortcomings or grief.
Confidence
Trust is the source of honesty and compassion is the source of love. Compassion should also inspire confidence and be displayed honestly. In this respect, it is possible to reflect moral values better.
Patience
It is important to be patient with the faults and troubles of other individuals. By showing patience and compassion to other individuals, they can be helped to overcome their problems and troubles. Since patience is also important in the development of tolerance, it is closely related to compassion (Hökelekli, 2013).
Justice
It is possible to see the concept of justice in political philosophy rather than ethical theories in Western philosophy. When we get to the bottom of this, it is to consider compassion in order to ensure justice (Bell, 1998).
Responsibility
Compassion requires taking responsibility. It is possible to talk about human responsibility in compassion, which aims to adopt the problems experienced by individuals and individuals and to produce necessary solutions.
Humility
Compassionate individuals are expected to behave humbly. This both prevents the needy person from feeling humiliated and gives the compassionate person an inner lineage.
Sensitivity
Sensitivity is the opposite of ignoring. It is possible to evaluate individuals in need of help within the scope of distinguishing (Dalgalı and Gürses, 2018).
DEVELOPING THE VALUE OF COMPASSION
According to Kant, compassion consists of an emotion. That is, it may or may not be innate in humans; Mercy cannot be earned later. However, like many of our undecidable features, it may be possible to train compassion (Dalgalı & Gürses, 2018). Feeling compassion is not a task, but developing the ability to feel it is a task. Being compassionate cannot be imposed by force, but it has the capacity to be developed (Dietze & Orb, 2000).
Man is a living being. The most important parts of this development take place between the ages of 0-6. The newborn knows his environment and the family has an important place in the development of the child. From this point of view, family values education is the first and most important factor in the development of the child’s sense of compassion. The family has to realize social learning with behaviors that will set an example for the child. This is also related to the family and caregiver’s practice of compassion on the child. A child who is raised with a compassionate mother and father is expected to be compassionate as well. The attitude developed by his friends towards the child and other individuals in later ages also plays an active role in the child’s gain or failure to gain compassion.
Apart from family and peer education, the acquisition of compassion value can be made possible with formal and latent learning materials that convey values education at school. Especially in pre-school education, thoughts and feelings should be transferred instead of knowledge transfer. Thus, the child who cannot receive compassion education from his family and peers can start to gain values at school. It is also possible to teach compassion through event planning, instructive stories and games.
Education and training curriculum should be planned for national and universal values. In addition, school counselors, teachers and school administration should design the school environment in accordance with national and universal values (Çengelci, Hancı, & Karaduman, 2013). Media productions suitable for the age of 18 should also be treated in accordance with the value of compassion. The theme of mercy should be handled in cartoons.
Most importantly, teachers with values should be trained. Appropriate courses should be given in education faculties, and courses such as “Character and Value Education” should continue to be enriched.
REFERENCES
Moon, V. (2013). Reevaluation of the Concept of ‘Compassion’ in Nietzsche. Beytulhikme An International Journal of Philosophy, 3(1), 199-215.
Crawford, P., Gilbert, P., Gilbert, J., Gale, C., & Harvey, K. (2013). The language of compassion in acute mental health care. Qualitative Health Research, 23(6), 719-
Çengelci, T., HANCI, B., & KARADUMAN, H. (2013). Teacher and student opinions on values education in school environment. Journal of values education, 11(25), 33-56.
DALGALI, B., & GÜRSES, İ. THE PLACE OF MERHAMET IN HEALTHCARE AND
IMPORTANCE. Sinop University Journal of Social Sciences, 2(1), 181-204.
Hokelekli, H. (2013). Human values in psychology, religion and education. Istanbul: Values Education Center Publications.
Kara, H., & Abay, E. (2000). Psychiatric approach to chronic pain. Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry, 1(2), 89.
Kemal Sayar, “Human states: Compassion”, https://www.diyanet.tv/insan-halleri/video/ human-halleri–12-bolum 20.04.2017
Rousseau, JJ (2020). The Source of Inequality Among People. Istanbul: Say Publications. Schopenhauer, A. (2009). Mercy. Istanbul: Dergah Publishing House.
Sponville, AC (2004). The Great Virtues Treatise. Istanbul: Istanbul Bilgi University Press.
Dictionary, TDK (2011). Turkish dictionary. Ankara: Turkish Language Association Publications. TDV. (2004). Encyclopedia of Islam, Vol. 29. Ankara: Center for Islamic Studies.
Von Dietze, E., & Orb, A. (2000). Compassionate care: a moral dimension of nursing. Nursing
Inquiry, 7(3), 166-174.
