Why Compassion Still Needs Hume Today

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Published: Jun 19, 2015
DOI: https://doi.org/10.13153/diam.44.2015.767
Keywords:
compassion love imagination sympathy pity suffering grief emotion empirical research healthcare

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Margreet van der Cingel
Windesheim University of Applied Science

Abstract

Over the past years the relevance of compassion for society and specific practices such as in healthcare is becoming a focus of attention. Philosophers and scientists discuss theoretical descriptions and defining characteristics of the phenomenon and its benefits and pitfalls. However, there are hardly any empirical studies which substantiate these writings in specific societal areas. Besides, compassion may be in the eye of attention today but has always been of interest for many contemporary philosophers as well as philosophers in the past, David Hume amongst them. Three themes related to Hume’s hypotheses on compassion are discussed and compared to outcomes of an empirical study amongst nurses and patients with a chronic disease. This comparison gives insights into the perception of those for whom compassion is of specific importance in their daily lives and into the usefulness of Hume’s notions on compassion.

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How to Cite
van der Cingel, Margreet. 2015. “Why Compassion Still Needs Hume Today”. Diametros, no. 44 (June):140-52. https://doi.org/10.13153/diam.44.2015.767.
Issue
No. 44 (2015)
Section
Special Topic - Justice and Compassion – Hume’s Moral Philosophy and Contemporary Practical Ethics

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Author Biography

Margreet van der Cingel, Windesheim University of Applied Science

Dr Margreet van der CingelCollege professor and senior researcher Nursing ScienceSchool of HealthcareKnowledge center: Innovation in care for older peopleWindesheim University of Applied ScienceCampus 2-6 8017 CA ZwolleThe NetherlandsE-mail: CJM.vander.Cingel@windesheim.nl
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