If man was not taught compassion would there be any?

[rhinefire]

I often struggle with some people that can forgive seemingly everyone where as I cannot. Immediately I flash back to my childhood absorbing ideas from other especially my parents. Now when I compare my anger with forgiveness I always feel I would like to talk personally with those folks just to hear their rational. I wonder how I would be different had I been taught forgiveness for much more and I am not sure sure how much capacity to forgive is taught versus it just being human.

 

[What if...?]

I often struggle with some people that can forgive seemingly everyone where as I cannot. Immediately I flash back to my childhood absorbing ideas from other especially my parents. Now when I compare my anger with forgiveness I always feel I would like to talk personally with those folks just to hear their rational. I wonder how I would be different had I been taught forgiveness for much more and I am not sure sure how much capacity to forgive is taught versus it just being human.

I have read that they suspect a genetic basis for compassion.

We're the only species that actually gives of themselves to others with no direct return. Teaching for instance.

 

[Chaddelamancha]

I have read that they suspect a genetic basis for compassion.

We're the only species that actually gives of themselves to others with no direct return. Teaching for instance.

I think Teachers get back just as much as they give. Nurturing and expanding a students mind and seeing the profound affect they have on their students fulfills some emotional need the teacher has.

 

[What if...?]

I think Teachers get back just as much as they give. Nurturing and expanding a students mind and seeing the profound affect they have on their students fulfills some emotional need the teacher has.

Animals don't actually teach though.

Chimps that hunt for termites with sticks don't "teach" their kids how to do it, they learn by observation. If the baby finds a better stick for the job, mom will take it.

 

[MaggieD]

I often struggle with some people that can forgive seemingly everyone where as I cannot. Immediately I flash back to my childhood absorbing ideas from other especially my parents. Now when I compare my anger with forgiveness I always feel I would like to talk personally with those folks just to hear their rational. I wonder how I would be different had I been taught forgiveness for much more and I am not sure sure how much capacity to forgive is taught versus it just being human.

Have you ever seen the movie Lord of the Flies? I'm sure there's a modern story of the same ilk, but it shows just how sociopathic/psychpathic children can be if left to their own devices.

Once you realize that you will meet few, if any, really evil people? You begin to understand that people do the best they can with what they have to work with. And some people don't "have much."

I'd imagine there'd be many reasons why a person found it difficult to forgive. If you've been betrayed betrayed and can't forgive? You are not alone. Betrayal is tough. Mistakes, on the other hand, should be easy in comparison. 'Cause we all make them. Even, and maybe especially, you.

Without knowing more about what you find hard to forgive, that's about all I have to say.

 

[MaggieD]

I have read that they suspect a genetic basis for compassion.

We're the only species that actually gives of themselves to others with no direct return. Teaching for instance.

I don't believe that. And teaching, especially, would be a poor example. Most every animal mom teaches her youngsters survival skills. The only reward is continuation of the species.

A few years ago, we found a baby pidgeon on the ground outside our office. He's apparently tried to fly, unsuccessfully, and gotten tangled up in some roof wires -- cut him up pretty bad. Well, I couldn't STAND it!! We'd all walk in and out of the office and here was this poor little creature huddled behind a large flower pot for its little life.

Eventually, I drove my officemate nutz enough about it that she agreed to help me capture the little guy. We put it in a shoebox and took it to a vet. The vet said maybe the parents would help . . . that it's biggest danger was infection from the cuts. We paid for an antibiotic injection and returned the little guy to behind his flowerpot.

The next day, an adult pigeon was showing the baby how to jump off and on the curb (3 feet from the flowerpot) to build up strength, I'd imagine. The adult did that every morning until the office got too busy and he couldn't stand the stress. (A secretary who came in early watched each day.) The adult fed the baby and showed it how to hop up and down curbside. Eventually, the little baby got its wings and took off.

I love that story!!!!!!!!!! Human beings are not the only species that cares.

 

[Mach]

No, some is natural, much of it is taught.
Much of it SHOULD be taught. If you live in a society that is too ass backwards to promote cooperation which includes compassion, then you don't want to be the compassionate fool...you won't survive. If you do have a culture/society that begins to know its head from its ass...it will have the capacity to value, and teach compassion.

I have read that they suspect a genetic basis for compassion.
We're the only species that actually gives of themselves to others with no direct return. Teaching for instance.

How human-centric of you. The fact that other animal groups raise their young and have groups that teach one another good areas to forage, how to avoid predators, etc., seems to poke a hole in this notion.