Advanced Books Addressing Other Topics Related to Compassion
January, 2008
Last updated:
Some books speak to advanced concepts in compassion or are written in an academic style not easily readable by the general public. Below is a listing of topic headings under which these books are grouped.
There are books, and articles, that can be downloaded from this site that address advanced concepts in compassion development.
Click on the buttons at the top of the page: healing, support, mystic or ultimate (these are the first 4 advanced books listed on this site).
Click on the buttons at the top of the page: healing, support, mystic or ultimate (these are the first 4 advanced books listed on this site).
If you are looking for introductory papers and books about compassion then click here -> ->
This site is under construction - return for updates
For introductory compassion information click here ->
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Title: Compassion: Toward a science of value
Author: Wiliam Eckhardt
Publisher/Year: CPRI Press, 1972
Summary: The book starts with the premise that any increase in compasssion will result in a simultaneous decrease in complusion. He uses philosophical arguement and normative based statistical studies to support most of his discussions. He proposes that the healthy human is one who can demonstrate compassion and that 1) dogmatic views are not correlated with compassion, and 2) people needing to over protect or self-gratify show lower levels of compassion. But also states that the most people are capapble of moving beyond their compulsions and toward developing more compassion provided they are given proper support.
Comments: This is an older book, but an interesting one that attempts a scientific look at compassion. There is considerable detail in this book that can not be portayed in this short synopsis. One problem with using normative statistical data when comparing levels of compassion to other human characteristics is how do people (and the researcher) define these levels of compasssion. What does "more compassion" look like? This has been a problem in both compassion and empathy research. Empathy development is barely touched upon and ideas on "passing it on" needed more clarity, but the other compassion assuptions are addressed. This is not an easy book to read, but it is one of the first that atttempts to look at statistical information supporting the development of compassion in some people more than in others.
Reviewer: Dr. W. David Hoisington
Web page author W. David Hoisington, Ph.D.