Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

The DU Lounge

In reply to the discussion: Is compassion empathy? [View all]

AZJonnie

(3,284 posts)
3. Excellent general description but I also think compassion can be properly called a feeling, like empathy
Fri Oct 31, 2025, 03:38 AM
Oct 2025

Compassion is a general sense of largesse, and empathy is a specific type of largesse, born of feeling the pain of another as if it were your own. When using the word to describe a feeling rather than an action, empathy is a wholly contained subset of compassion. If you are empathetic, you are also compassionate. But the converse is not always true.

Also I think one could argue that empathy is a wholly contained subset of sympathy. If you are empathetic, you are also sympathetic. But the converse is not always true.

So I've decided after writing this out, in order of increasing specificity it goes Compassion>Sympathy>Empathy. The Venn diagram would have compassion as the outside, which holds sympathy, which then holds empathy. When using the words to describe internal feelings.

But it gets a little more complex when you make them into their action form: Displaying Compassion, Sympathizing, Empathizing.

MHO fwiw

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Latest Discussions»The DU Lounge»Is compassion empathy?»Reply #3