Conspicuous Compassion Why sometimes it really is cruel to be kind Patrick West Introduction to the Australian Edition by Paul Comrie-Thomson CIS Occasional Paper 91 2004 First published in February 2004 by The Institute for the Study of Civil Society (Civitas) The Mezzanine, Elizabeth House 39 York Road, London SE1 7NQ Reprinted with Introduction to the Australian Edition in December 2004 by The Centre for Independent Studies Limited PO Box 92, St Leonards, NSW 1590
[email protected] www.cis.org.au Views expressed in the publications of The Centre for Independent Studies are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Centre’s staff, Advisers, Directors or officers. National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication Data: West, Patrick. Conspicuous compassion : why sometimes it really is cruel to be kind. ISBN 1 86432 094 X. 1. Compassion. 2. Empathy. 3. Social perception. 4. Altruism. I. Centre for Independent Studies (Australia). II. Title. (Series : CIS occasional papers ; 91). 152.41 ©2004 The Centre for Independent Studies Glass Tears (1932) by Man Ray, reproduced with permission Printed by Harding Colour, Brisbane, Queensland Typeset in Garamond 11pt Contents Foreword by Kenneth Minogue vii Introduction by Paul Comrie-Thomson ix Acknowlegements xxv 1. Conspicuous Compassion 1 2. Mourning Sickness 7 3. Nonce-sense 15 4. Silence of the Critics 19 5. Lapel Louts 23 6. Animals Wrongs 27 7. Any Spare Change? 33 8. Not in My Name 39 9. You’ve Got Junk Mail 43 10. Drop the Slogans 49 11. Relief from Celebrities 53 12.