Benevolence
Benevolence is the criterion for moral action. The term was entered as a translation of the Latin word Benevolentia into German and contains elements of a benevolent attitude and openness to the concerns of those to whom this attitude applies. For Immanuel Kant , benevolence is the only primary virtue : "There is nothing in the world, indeed it is possible at all to think outside of the world, which could be considered good without restriction other than good will". If this is lacking, all other virtues can "also become extremely evil and harmful".
What is meant is an action that
- is done consciously and deliberately
- selflessly ( altruism ) is directed towards other people
- Wants to bring about well-being and joy
Forms of benevolence are:
- practice conscious solidarity
- Empathy give ( empathy )
- reciprocal gratitude
- sympathy express
Idioms
Related words and idioms:
- to be benevolent / benevolent towards someone / something
- Show goodwill towards someone / something
- to examine a thing benevolently
- with all goodwill
- enjoy one's benevolence
- to rely on someone's goodwill in a matter
- to keep one's goodwill
Related terms
- Favor , as a term very similar to benevolence.
- Win-win , a situation that is profitable for both parties.
- Reciprocity , the mutuality of benevolence.
- Resentment , envy and aggression denote opposite terms.
- Pluralis benevolentiae , plural of benevolence as an inclusive we
- Captatio benevolentiae , requesting benevolence as a rhetorical figure
See also
Web links
Wiktionary: benevolence - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations
Wikiquote: Benevolence - Quotes
Individual evidence
- ^ Kant: Basis for the Metaphysics of Morals , Anaconda Verlag, 2008.