There is no need to define morality; let us be simply compassionate. Morality rests for its very meaning on the concepts of ‘good’ and ‘bad’. Man’s ability to understand, being able to sympathesize, feel kindness and sorrow for and identify himself with the sufferings of his fellowmen describes what morality is or what morality is not. If we consider all those thoughts and deeds that are truly moral in character, we will see how compassion drives morality.
Truth is indeed a controversial aspect of morality. But almost always it can be justified as a moral principle on the basis of compassion. There is a difference between treating people “as if” we care about them and truly caring about them. Morality is making what is considered to be the right choice. Right choices are sometimes made because they are simply the right choice. I would say that it is more of a moral choice when we make the right choice regardless of whatever personal feelings we have.
The classic example of this would be the case of rejection. You know, when the two of you are best of friends and one falls in love with another, but the other one has just friend zoned their relation. A deep-felt concern for the companion’s feeling of hurt and rejection would be the compassion aspect but being upfront to him about your feelings prevails the moral aspect. In modern society, compassion is getting eroded in the hustle and bustle of the mechanical existence and what remains is the ‘material values’ that look only towards immediate personal gains.
There is the need to realize that human beings must continue to feel compassionate for the sake of themselves as individuals as well as the society. If all of the logical reasons don’t do it for you, just try it for a while and see how much better you feel about yourself. Use the ‘feel good’ excuse unashamedly. Consider making compassion the cornerstone of your moral, or ethical, system of behavior. Embrace compassion as a way to see the world and watch the world change within your eyes.
–Tanvi Shah
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