Raíces griegas de la compasión cristiana

II. La compasión en Aristóteles

Abstract

The second part of the essay studies the compassion in Aristotle, specifically, in Rhetoric and Poetics. The compassion in Aristotle is not a virtue, but an emotion or passion, so it is not well appreciated; in Poetics is insisted in the purgation of the compassion. Now look, the compassion is not opposed to the virtue, but in the same way that all emotions it could five in a virtuous way, in its middle term. Aristotle emphasizes that we feel compassion especially for those who are near to us and are suffering an undeserved pain, that is, those good and honest people that don't deserve the mentioned suffering but they have constant bad luck. This is the central thesis of Aristotle, nevertheless, in the Poetics is referred to a philanthropic feeling or a sentiment of compassion towards all people, regardless of whether deserve or not that pain, even though they are bad people.