Educating compassionate beings

This paper explores the notion of compassion and points to some intricacies inherent in it, in particular the paradox of egocentrism. Most ambiguous is its ontological status: is it an emotion, a virtue, a moral commitment, or a neurological reflex? Each category entails different implications for the process of educating compassionate beings. The conclusion is that genuine compassion is, from the very beginning, not just mere feeling, it is based on the recognition of rights of others. A person in need is much more than the object of our noble compassionate feelings and caring help, she is the subject of rights.