Compassion and Pity

This chapter delves into moral psychological discussions of compassion and cognate terms such as pity, noting significant changes in these concepts over time. The study acknowledges the substantial existing research on compassion but identifies a gap in the medieval period’s coverage. By examining ancient, medieval, and early modern texts, the article aims to fill this gap, offering insights into the continuities and transformations of compassion’s conceptualizations. It considers both the individual and social dimensions of compassion, analysing its cognitive, affective, physiological aspects, and exploring how theories of compassion include deliberations of social bonds and societal structures. Ultimately, this article argues that understanding historical perspectives on compassion can reveal broader moral psychological and anthropological models of their time and their implications for social and political theory, such as highlighting the universalhuman affinity and the urge to preserve humanity.