Comparison of the concept of compassion on the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer and Buddhism

Kezele, Borna. (2019). Comparison of the concept of compassion on the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer and Buddhism. Diploma Thesis. Filozofski fakultet u Zagrebu, Department of Philosophy
Department of Indology. [mentor Zagorac, Ivana and Kardaš, Goran].

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Abstract

The concept of compassion, as a topic in philosophy, has been sistematically put aside by the Western philosophical tradition. Aim of this master's thesis is to present the concept of compassion as it was understood by Arthur Schopenhauer and compare it with the compassion as seen in Buddhism where it is considered as one of the cardinal virtues. The research begins with the influence of Indian thought on Arthur Schopenhauer who was in contact with the ideas from the East as early as 1814. Schopenhauer's most essential writings on compassion, morality and ethics are found in his essay „On the basis of morality“. The Buddhist value system is rationalistic (the cardinal virtue of wisdom) but based on the concept of compassion. The overview, analysis, and comparison between the two understandings of compassion will show their possible similarities and differences.

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