Altruism

Thinking hardly or hardly thinking? Philosophy

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“”We're born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we're not alone.

—Orson Welles

Altruism is a somewhat nebulous concept that involves "doing something for someone (or thing) else without being motivated to gain something for oneself". The idea has evolved over thousands of years as a social strategy when "every man for himself" didn't pan out so well. At least in social species like humans, there is some reason to believe that altruism may be the key to an advanced society. We'll let you figure out the implications of that idea.

Some may also say that altruism in humans happens because you sincerely want others to be happy whether you feel good about it or not. After all, people do give up their lives on behalf of others.

Cynically, the very act of "selflessly giving" is prima facie selfish in the sense that it makes one feel like a really awesome Christ-like helping/healing person (going along the lines of "if you're not getting something out of altruism, then why are you doing it"). Just because you received the feeling of awesomeness does not mean that that was your motivation, but let's be real, you wouldn't do it if you didn't get some validation, even if only internal.

Outside of deeply-felt Christian charity, altruism is usually genetically beneficial anyway.

Kin selection is an evolutionary strategy observed in humans in which they favor the reproduction and success of their close relatives and people that look like them; altruism is sometimes caused by a subconscious racism.

See also

• The Ant and the Peacock
• Auguste Comte
• Effective altruism
• Ethical altruism
• Morality
• Objectivism, for a philosophy which gives this concept (and generally speaking, the rest of the human race) the finger and celebrates selfishness instead.

References

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