The Brutal Truth About Compassion: Why Liberals and Conservatives Both Get It Wrong
The Cruelty of Conservatives, the Foolishness of Liberals, and the Path to True Balance
Introduction: A Tale of Two Circles
Imagine two people standing on a beach. One picks up a single shell, marveling at its unique beauty. The other gazes out to the horizon, captivated by the vastness of the ocean. These two perspectives—the intimate focus versus the expansive view—mirror a profound truth about how humans experience compassion. Whether you are drawn to the single shell or the infinite expanse can depend on your ideological lens.
This article delves into groundbreaking research on how liberals and conservatives define and act on compassion differently. It’s not just about political squabbles; it’s about fundamental psychological differences that shape how we relate to the world, to others, and even to ourselves.
The Science of Moral Circles
In their 2019 study, Waytz et al. explored a concept known as the "moral circle"—the imaginary boundary around those we feel moral responsibility toward. Liberals, they found, often embrace a universalist approach, extending compassion broadly, to all humanity and even non-human entities. Conservatives, on the other hand, lean toward a parochial perspective, focusing their care on smaller, more defined groups such as family and nation.
The distinction isn’t superficial. It’s rooted in deeper psychological tendencies. Conservatives prioritize order, structure, and loyalty, making their moral circles tighter. Liberals, characterized by openness and tolerance for ambiguity, allow their circles to stretch further, embracing broader, looser groups.
Universalists vs. Parochialists: A Journey Through Ideology
1. The Liberal Lens: Universalism
Liberal compassion echoes the principles of openness. Studies show liberals are more likely to donate to global causes, advocate for animal rights, and support policies that benefit distant groups. This is the compassion of the ocean gazer, whose view extends to the furthest horizon. The foundation of this worldview is an intrinsic belief in equality and interconnectedness, often driven by values of harm reduction and fairness.
2. The Conservative Lens: Parochialism
Conservatives, conversely, tend to anchor their compassion in the close-knit bonds of family, community, and nation. This perspective fosters resilience and stability within small groups, offering a safe haven in times of crisis. It's the compassion of the shell collector, treasuring the immediate over the abstract. Loyalty, sanctity, and authority often guide these values, reinforcing their narrower moral scope.
From Moral Circles to Everyday Decisions
These ideological differences aren't confined to theoretical studies—they play out in real-world decisions every day. When given $100 to distribute, liberals are more likely to allocate funds equally among a diverse array of groups, including animals and the environment. Conservatives are inclined to focus their giving on humans, especially those within their perceived in-group.
Consider the implications in policy debates:
Immigration: Liberals advocate for open borders as an expression of universal compassion, while conservatives emphasize the need to protect the integrity of their nation.
Climate Change: For liberals, saving the planet is a moral imperative. For conservatives, the focus might center on immediate, tangible impacts on their community.
Compassion: A Tool for Growth and Balance
Compassion is a cornerstone of human connection and personal growth. But as powerful as it is, compassion can become destructive when it lacks balance. When compassion is offered at the expense of boundaries, it devolves into self-sabotaging foolishness. Conversely, when boundaries are set without compassion, they can become cruelty, cutting others off from the very support that might lead to their growth.
Compassion Without Boundaries: The Liberal Trap
Liberals often lead with a sense of universal compassion. Their moral circle extends far and wide, encompassing not only their immediate circles but also strangers, animals, and even abstract concepts like the environment. While this inclination is noble, it can become a double-edged sword when self-care is sacrificed in the process.
“Compassion without boundaries is foolishness”
Imagine someone who gives so freely of their time, energy, and resources that they are left depleted, unable to sustain themselves. Over time, their inability to care for their own needs limits their capacity to help others. The airline safety rule applies here: put on your oxygen mask before assisting others. Without boundaries, compassion burns out.
A Next Level Human recognizes that self-neglect not only harms the individual but also limits their ability to contribute meaningfully to others. True compassion starts with self-care, ensuring that one’s own well-being is secure before extending a hand to others.
Boundaries Without Compassion: The Conservative Dilemma
Conservatives, by contrast, often emphasize self-reliance and personal responsibility. Their compassion is more focused, often directed toward those within their immediate moral circle—family, community, or nation. This approach values boundaries and structure, but when taken to the extreme, it risks neglecting the needs of others entirely.
"Boundaries without compassion is cruelty”
Consider the scenario of someone amassing wealth while refusing to share it with those in need. Over time, this neglect fosters desperation in others, leading to unrest, crime, and even violence. In this way, a lack of compassion for others ultimately undermines the conservative’s own safety and well-being.
The Next Level Human acknowledges the wisdom in boundaries but tempers them with compassion. This balance ensures that others are supported in meaningful ways, fostering cooperation and mutual growth.
The Rule of the Next Level Human: Balance Self and Other
The Next Level Human philosophy bridges these extremes, integrating the best of both perspectives. The rule is simple but profound: always consider self and other simultaneously. This approach begins with giving—like a liberal—but also includes an expectation that the recipient will eventually take steps to help themselves, like a conservative.
A Next Level Human understands that their resources—whether time, money, or emotional energy—are finite. They give freely, but not indiscriminately. If someone consistently refuses to help themselves, the Next Level Human shifts their focus to others who are ready and willing to grow. This ensures that compassion remains effective and sustainable.
Compassion Looks Different for Everyone
Compassion doesn’t have to look like warm smiles and comforting words. For conservatives, compassion might take the form of action: the firefighter pulling someone from a burning building, the police officer maintaining order, or the parent enforcing tough love to teach resilience. These acts may not evoke immediate warmth, but they reflect a deep commitment to others’ well-being.
Liberals, by contrast, may demonstrate compassion through advocacy, inclusivity, and emotional connection. Their focus on connection and belonging fosters a sense of shared humanity, but it can lack the structure necessary to make compassion sustainable.
For the Next Level Human, compassion integrates the best of both approaches: it is warm and inclusive, but also grounded in responsibility and purpose. It recognizes that to help others effectively, one must first build a strong foundation of self-care and resilience.
The Psychology Behind Compassion and Boundaries
At its core, the divide between liberal and conservative compassion reflects fundamental differences in psychological drives:
Conservatives are often motivated by fear and a desire for control. Their boundaries provide a sense of safety and order, protecting what matters most.
Liberals are driven by the need for connection, belonging, and popularity. Their compassion is expansive, aiming to include and uplift as many as possible.
A Next Level Human transcends these base and culture-level drives by focusing on meaning, purpose, and growth. They create safety through boundaries and foster connection through warmth and inclusivity, balancing the needs of self and others.
The Next Level Human Approach
Compassion is perhaps the most important tool for growth, but it must be wielded wisely. By embracing inclusivity, integration, and holism, both liberals and conservatives can embody the Next Level Human philosophy.
Liberals can learn to establish boundaries, ensuring that their compassion doesn’t come at the expense of their own well-being.
Conservatives can expand their compassion to include those outside their immediate circles, recognizing that helping others ultimately strengthens their own position.
By balancing boundaries and compassion, the Next Level Human becomes a force for growth and positive change. They give generously but expect accountability. They care deeply but protect their own energy. In doing so, they model a path that integrates self-care with the care of others, creating a more balanced, connected, and sustainable world.
Key Takeaways:
Compassion without boundaries can lead to burnout and harm.
Boundaries without compassion can create isolation and conflict.
A Next Level Human integrates the best of both, balancing self-care with care for others.
Closing Thought: True compassion, when balanced with firm boundaries, has the power to transform not only individuals but also entire communities. It is the hallmark of a Next Level Human—someone who uplifts themselves and others in the pursuit of meaning, purpose, and growth.