Kindness
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2008-06-20T18:25:40Z
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'''Kindness''' is the act or the state of [[Charity (virtue)|charitable]] behavior to other people.
==In philosophy and culture==
Kindness is considered to be one of the [[Knightly Virtues]], and is a recognized [[Value (personal and cultural)|value]] in many cultures and religions (see [[ethics in religion]]). It is considered to be one of the [[seven virtues]], specifically the one of the Seven Contrary Virtues (direct opposites of the [[seven deadly sins]]) that is the direct opposite to [[envy]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://deadlysins.com/virtues.html|title=Contrary, Heavenly, and Cardinal Virtues|work=7 Deadly Sins|accessdate=2005-11-22}}</ref>. The [[Talmud]] claims that "deeds of kindness are equal in weight to all the commandments." [[Paul of Tarsus]] defines [[love]] as being `patient and kind...` ([[I Corinthians]]).
In [[Buddhism]], one of the Ten Perfections ([[Paramitas]]) is [[Mettā]], which is usually translated into English as "loving-kindness". [[Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama]] wrote "my religion is kindness" and authored a book entitled ''Kindness, Clarity, and Insight''.<ref> Dalai Lama (1984). ''Kindness, Clarity, and Insight.'' Snow Lion Publications (ISBN 978-0937938188)</ref>
[[Confucius]] urges his followers to "recompense kindness with kindness."
According to book two of [[Aristotle]]'s ''Rhetoric'' it is one of the [[emotion]]s (see [[list of emotions]]), which is defined as being "helpfulness towards some one in need, not in return for anything, nor for the advantage of the helper himself, but for that of the person helped"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.public.iastate.edu/~honeyl/Rhetoric/rhet2-7.html|title=Kindness|author=Aristotle (translated by Lee Honeycutt)|work=Rhetoric, book 2, chapter 7|accessdate=2005-11-22}}
</ref>.
One of the four [[caryatid]]s on the [[Wallace fountain]]s in [[Paris]] represents kindness.
In a study of 37 cultures around the world, 16000 subjects were asked about their most desired traits in a mate. For both sexes, the first preference was kindness (the second was [[intelligence]]).<ref> Buss, D. M. (2003). ''The evolution of desire: Strategies of human mating''. New York: Basic Books. (ISBN 0-465-02143-3)</ref>
Philosopher [[Friedrich Nietzsche]] had this to say about kindness:
:'''Economy of kindness'''.
:''Kindness and love, the most curative herbs and agents in [[human]] [[intercourse]], are such precious finds that one would hope these balsamlike remedies would be used as economically as possible; but this is impossible. Only the boldest Utopians would dream of the economy of kindness.''
'''Islamic view of kindness:'''
'''"Kindness is half of life."''', Imam Musa Al-Kadhim, the 7th Imam of Shia Islam school of thought, Imam Musa Al-Kadhim was the 7th leader after prophet Mohammed as per the beliefs of Shia Muslims.
==See also==
*[[Altruism]]
*[[Compassion]]
*[[Emotion]]
*[[Empathy]]
*[[Generosity]]
*[[Random act of kindness]]
*[[Reciprocity]]
*[[Sympathy]]
*[[Wikipedia:Kindness Campaign]]
==References==
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[[Category:Virtues]]
[[Category:Positive psychology]]
[[cs:Přejícnost]]
[[de:Freundlichkeit]]
[[es:Amabilidad]]
[[pt:Caridade]]
[[uk:Лагідність]]