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nuxvomica

(13,822 posts)

5. empathy is a skill while compassion is a feeling

Reply to Buttoneer (Original post)

Fri Oct 31, 2025, 07:35 AM

Oct 31

Empathy is the learned ability to "put yourself in someone else's shoes", to think from another's point of view, which is why it is a necessary skill in understanding sarcasm. Compassion is feeling bad for another's suffering. My cat is compassionate when I'm feeling down but it is unlikely he understands why I'm feeling down.

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Is compassion empathy? [View all] Buttoneer Oct 30 OP

Related, but not the same. no_hypocrisy Oct 30 #1

That is a really good explanation! choie Oct 30 #2

Excellent general description but I also think compassion can be properly called a feeling, like empathy AZJonnie Oct 31 #3

I feel that empathy leads to compassion. OldBaldy1701E Oct 31 #4

empathy is a skill while compassion is a feeling nuxvomica Oct 31 #5

Compassion id from Latin and soldierant Nov 1 #6

From a friend. "Empathy is identifying, understanding and realizing (usually from having experienced or from sharing) Buttoneer Nov 1 #7