Abstract

Arthur Schopenhauer is a philosopher of compassion and mercy; his concepts of willpower and compassion are frequently seen in his philosophy. This study aims to define the concept of compassion and morality are and at the same time, compare them with the ideas of some thinkers of different views. In this context, different definitions of compassion were examined and the views of some thinkers who evaluated the concept of compassion in the ethical and philosophical sense were mentioned. Schopenhauer, applied a moral and metaphysical importance to compassion that is without parallel in the Western philosophical tradition. According to Schopenhauer,'morality' is a way of relationship in which nobody hurts one another and everybody helps each other so far as possible; is the feeling of compassion. Some other philosophers have also emphasized that compassion can be seen as a moral virtue. It is necessary to understand the nature of compassion in order to have this virtue. Believing that moral value can be realized as a result of compassion, Schopenhauer believes that love and compassion will be found in people of good moral character. That's why he thinks that the person must suppres his willpower. Egoism and malice also cause to bad action and bad ideas in behaviours. To Schopenhauer, the only thing they would resolve egoism and malice is compassion. Compassion is an emotion that takes man to true justice and love of human as well.