今年の旭川医大の出題英文からの抜粋です。下線部のcompassionについて、文に即して説明してください。
So, much of the compassion of the West is what some Buddhists call idiot compassion. This is compassion that sees the evil afflicting others as something distinct from the everyday situation of the person feeling compassion. It is a form of degenerate compassion and perhaps more accurately described as pity. Pity is a self-regarding feeling, where the objects or pity are viewed from the secure vantage point of the pitier. The pitier gives some aｌms* or watches a Live Aid concert on the television. The truly compassionate have the desire lo change the situation - compassion is an intentional state. We cannot have compassion without the desire to alleviate* the suffering.
afflict―vt. ひどく苦しめる、悩ます
distinct―adj. はっきりと識別［区別］できる、異なった、
degenerate ―adj. 悪化した、堕落した、退化した
self-regard―n. 自愛
vantage―n.1 見晴らしの良い地点、有利、優越、優勢な地位、利益
alms―n. 〈古〉施し物
intentional―adj. 意図的な、故意による、計画的な◆
alleviate―vt. ～を軽減する、和らげる、緩和する、楽にする
コメント