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Compassion vs Ethical - What's the difference?

compassion | ethical |

As nouns the difference between compassion and ethical

is that compassion is deep awareness of the suffering of another, coupled with the wish to relieve it while ethical is an ethical drug.

As a verb compassion

is (obsolete) to pity.

As an adjective ethical is

(philosophy|not comparable) of or relating to the study of ethics.

compassion

English

Noun

  • Deep awareness of the suffering of another, coupled with the wish to relieve it
  • * 1849 , Robert Leighton (Archbishop of Glasgow), A practical commentary upon the first Epistle of St. Peter (page 47)
    • Oh! the unspeakable privilege to have Him for our Father, who is the Father of mercies and compassions , and those not barren, fruitless pityings, for He is withal the God of all consolations.

    Synonyms

    * empathy, pity, ruth, tenderheartedness, sorrow * kindness, heart, mercy

    Derived terms

    * compassionate * compassion fatigue

    Related terms

    * compatible

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To pity.
  • * 1607 , , IV. i. 124:
    • O heavens, can you hear a good man groan / And not relent, or not compassion him?

    External links

    * * ----

    ethical

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (philosophy, not comparable) Of or relating to the study of ethics.
    • The philosopher Kant is particularly known for his ethical writings.
  • (not comparable) Of or relating to the accepted principles of right and wrong, especially those of some organization or profession.
    • All employees must familiarize themselves with our ethical guidelines.
  • (comparable) Morally approvable, when referring to an action that affects others; good.
    • We are trying to decide what the most ethical course of action would be.
  • (of a drug, not comparable) Only dispensed on the prescription of a physician.
    • In most jurisdictions, morphine is classified as an ethical drug.

    Usage notes

    * In general usage ethical'' is used to describe standards of behavior between individuals, while ''moral'' or ''immoral can describe any behavior. You can call lying unethical or immoral, for example, because it involves the behavior of one person and how it affects another, but violating dietary prohibitions in a holy text can only be described as immoral.

    Derived terms

    * ethical investment * ethical system * meta-ethical * (morally approvable) unethical

    Related terms

    * ethic * ethics * ethos

    See also

    * ethical dative

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An ethical drug.

    • External links

    * * *

    Anagrams

    *