What is the value of compassion in today’s world? (A: Caffè Nero)

THE VENUE: Caffè Nero

Rain is currently forecast for Sunday but things may change. So, the default is to meet indoors but please look out for updates before you leave home.

When we meet inside, we run the same event in two locations: Caffè Nero and Starbucks, so as to provide capacity for as many people who would like to attend. Thus, there will be two events published, and you can choose which one to attend. Please don't sign up for both. This event is for the Nero location.

We meet upstairs at Caffè Nero. An organiser will be present from 10.45. We are not charged for use of the space so it would be good if everyone bought at least one drink.

An attendee limit has been set so as not to overwhelm the venue.

Etiquette
Our discussions are friendly and open. We are a discussion group, not a for-and-against debating society. But it helps if we try to stay on topic. And we should not talk over others, interrupt them, or try to dominate the conversation.

There is often a waiting list for places, so please cancel your attendance as soon as possible if you subsequently find you can't come.

WhatsApp groups
We have two WhatsApp groups. One is to notify events, including extra events such as meeting for a meal or a drink during the week which we don't normally put on the Meetup site. The other is for open discussion of whatever topics occur to people. If you would like to join either or both groups, please send a note of the phone number you would like to use to Richard Baron on: website.audible238@passmail.net. (This is an alias that can be discarded if it attracts spam, hence the odd words.)

THE TOPIC: What is the value of compassion in today’s world?

Thank you to Andrew for preparing this week's topic. This short article will provide some useful background: https://philosophynow.org/issues/52/Schopenhauers_Compassionate_Morality

Schopenhauer wrote in ‘The Two Fundamental Problems with Ethics’ that there are three motives for our actions, the balance of which determines
our moral character, more than does pure reason:

1.⁠ ⁠Egoism/Self-interest: the desire for one’s own well-being.
2.⁠ ⁠Malice: the desire for another’s woe.
3.⁠ ⁠Compassion: the desire for another’s well-being.

He asks the question: What can motivate individuals to overcome their egoistic tendencies? Surely not adherence to theistic commandments or the categorical imperative. Morality does not originate in human rationality, which is merely instrumental, concerned with the means towards some end which one already has in mind. For Schopenhauer, all moral actions can be expressed by the Latin phrase Neminem laede, imo omnes quantum potes, juva (“Injure no one; on the contrary, help everyone as much as you can”).

•⁠ ⁠Do we think that people are more emotional as Schopenhauer suggests, or more the rational as suggested by Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Spinoza et al?

•⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Do we think that Schopenhauer’s 3 driver model still valid, or is the model too simplistic for today’s complex society?

•⁠ ⁠How does Schopenhauer’s view of compassion fit with Nietzsche’s will to power? For example, comparing Trump’s and Starmer’s relationship with Zelenskyy and the Ukraine war.

•⁠ ⁠Are people more compassionate in a group-based collectivist society than individualistic?

•⁠ ⁠⁠Should we expect our government to be compassionate or rational or some mixture, and if so how should the balanced be set? For example during the COVID crisis.

•⁠ ⁠Is it possible for AI to be compassionate if we allow it to manage human affairs?