Final answer:
The reconciliation of compassion with the will to survive involves understanding that humans possess both selfish and altruistic tendencies, which can be managed through ethical reflection and the cultivation of virtues like compassion and empathy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of reconciling compassion with a will to survive is a complex one that touches on various philosophical and ethical concerns about human nature and our responsibilities to other beings and to the planet we inhabit. At the heart of this issue is the recognition that humans are capable of both selfishness and altruism and that our survival instincts can sometimes be at odds with our compassionate impulses. This tension is evident in diverse ethical frameworks, including virtue ethics, which advocates for the development of personal virtues such as compassion and empathy, and in discussions about our long-term relationship with the planet.
From an empirical standpoint, humans have an innate tendency to seek what benefits them personally, but this doesn't preclude the development of social virtues that enhance group survival, like sympathy and empathy. Within various moral theories, the capacity for compassion and empathy is considered essential for ethical behavior, as demonstrated by the philosophy of Mencius, who argues that compassions, like all virtues, are the product of knowledge and reflection. In reconciling these aspects of human nature, we find a bridge that allows us to respond to the Problem of Suffering or the considerations about the implications of our actions on the natural world and future generations.