Can compassion and cynicism go hand in hand?

Question

Do you believe that even a compassionate person can be nonetheless cynical about people and human nature? Is it a controdiction, to practice compassion while ever expecting the opposite from others? Am I only defeating my self in the end, with my cynicism, despite my best efferts at a compassionate attitude and life goal?

Answer 1

Yes I think they are compatible You are gaining wisdom by asking the question.

The cynic in me wants to show compassion in the following ways

1. Recognize the world is both good and bad,but try to do good.

2. Recognize that might does not decide what is right or wrong. Rather it is indifferent to right or wrong.(Illustration: A truck can deliver food and water to the needy and run over a child.) The might and power of the truck is indifferent to the events. The cynic can see this and still decide to use might for good. The idealist wastes energy attacking trucks. The cynic finds better ways to use them.

3. Much good is done by vice serving virtue. (Illustration: Much funding of charities is done for goodwill advertising than is done for the charity's sake alone.)People often do good for the wrong reason, it is the result that matters.

4. The cynic in me can see is the opposite is also true. Much that is wrong with the world is the result of virtue serving vice. (Illustration: Religion as a justification for persecution.)

When cynicism is used as a justification for indifference that is when they look incompatible.

America had founding fathers who like you recognized the failings of human nature. This is why they used checks and balances.

Answer 2

In my personal opinion, yes, cynicism and compassion can coexist. Cynicism is a pragmatic, sometimes realistic view of the world. But assuming that people are acting out of self-interest does not mean you cannot be compassionate toward them and toward the circumstances that they are creating. Perhaps the knowledge that some people act out of self-interest can be turned around, to try to show them a better (in my opinion), more empathetic, sharing path.

Cynicism can be utilized positively to protect yourself or can be used to justify either your own selfish behavior or a lack of proactive generosity. Whether you are defeating your own efforts depends on how you react to your perception. Do you allow others' lack of compassion to decrease your own compassion? Or do you try to live as an example for others? You can care about the people around you and try to help them without being a doormat if your perception of self interest turns out to be correct.

I'm sure more people more educated in the psychology of human motivation could put it better than me, but that's my opinion, with pretty much no scientific theories or evidence to back it up. :)

Answer 3

It's really hard to reconcile a general mistrust for people's motives with a feeling of empathy towards the same. I like the answers so far-- and think now I may have more of a cynical affinity than I did before, if such concern for vast swaths of people is indeed possible. The ironic relationship is older than Vico. What great messages to learn from Diogenes, Voltaire, Swift, and Twain~!

Answer 4

Cynicism is popularly seen as a very negative thing, and indeed it can inspire very negative reactions in people. However, irony, which tends to be a quality of a cynic's speech and thought, can be a healthy response to the imperfections of the world.

It is my belief that extreme irony can be a way of articulating your own qualms with the universe in such a way that you don't hurt others with it in any outright way. As such it might be seen as a form of compassion--the compassion of concealing your burning, ideological thoughts and intuition from the minds of those who might respond spitefully or without understanding.

Answer 5

Scornful, jaded-negativity and compassion travel the same path, but in opposite directions. One path leads to joyous, happy fulfillment and of the course the other its opposite! Guess which is which?
Smiles to you and eat more peanut butter!