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Compassion is a Zero Sum Game
And it’s far past time we acted accordingly
A zero-sum game is any interaction in which one person’s gain results in an equivalent loss by the other participant. No net gain is achieved. The concept of a zero-sum game is prominent in game theory. Chess is an example of a zero-sum game, in which one person wins at the expense of another.
The Western world for a number of decades now has been labouring under a delusion that not only can we be compassionate towards every single person on this Earth, but that we‘re obliged to. If you’re not supporting the latest cause du jour and are instead looking after your family and those in your circle of influence, apparently you’re selfish and insufficiently compassionate.
The perfect illustration of this was just a couple of weeks ago when Vice President JD Vance was criticised for expressing that there’s a hierarchy of values and that your family comes first before anybody else. He was even accused of “inverting the Gospel” — as though the idea of your family coming first is a uniquely Christian concept.
Let’s get real now…
The simple fact is that compassion for others always comes at the expense of someone else. This can take the form of emotional time and energy, taking a side in a dispute or justice being…
