Read an interesting article about differences between pity, sympathy, empathy, compassion. Think, to empathetically share someone’s perspective, it’s more than merely putting self in their position. Rather, an intuitive understanding, knowledgeable insights.
Empathy is confused with pity, sympathy, compassion. Pity is a feeling of discomfort at distress of other beings, patronising overtones. Implicit in notion of pity is un-deservedness of plight of others. A feeling we’re unable to prevent, reverse it. Pity is less engaged, amounting to little more than a conscious acknowledgement.
Sympathy is a feeling of care, concern for others accompanied by a wish to see better times. Compared to pity, sympathy implies a greater sense of shared similarities with greater personal engagement. However, sympathy doesn’t involve shared emotions, shared distress.
Compassion (suffering along-side) others, is more profound than simple empathy. An active desire to alleviate suffering, loss, pain. Compassion, which builds upon empathy, is the main motivator of altruism. Compassion is passion with a heart.