Please, no answers that begin with the word, "if"
2006-06-28 13:43:34 · 17 answers · asked by Big Blue 3 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
There is truly no such thing as selfless. You cannot help another person without helping yourself or feeling good about it. That benefits two people.
2006-06-28 13:53:44 · answer #1 · answered by Brian R 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've actually been thinking about this a lot lately, and I tend to think no. It seems like any action, no matter how beneficial to others, somehow benefits yourself in some way or another.
For example, doing something nice for someone or a larger group, is often done with the hope that praise and gratitude will be given (a way to feel good about yourself). Or, if you work at a hard task, it's often done with the hope that you will be acknowledged and praised for the work you've done.
It seems like any task, in reality, can be traced back to benefitting you somehow.
Not to say that people don't also do good things because they want to be helpful, or better the community, or better something or other. I just think that, in the end, self gratification is a partial motive, no matter how conscious a motive it is.
2006-06-28 22:44:14 · answer #2 · answered by judithsr 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are many who probably think they are totally selfless. I think it would not be good for anyone to not be a little selfless and think what is best for them and not everyone else all the time.
2006-06-28 20:50:39 · answer #3 · answered by auntkarendjjb 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, no one is totally selfless. One has to deny another from time to time so that one can take care of oneself. If one claims to be totally selfless, that person is probably a disturbed individual who lives as a martyr for their own self-gratification.
2006-06-28 21:41:49 · answer #4 · answered by truly 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. I believe to be totally selfless, you would have to NEVER care about yourself. That is impossible in the first place, but it would be bad as well. You SHOULD be selfish once in a while.
2006-06-28 20:48:54 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, no one can be completely selfless.......
The only act that a person can do, that is completely selfless, is to die for someone else......
There is nothing they can want in return, they are not doing it for them, it is a complete, selfless act......
Anything else we do, is selfish, but, is naturally, and intended to be that way to survive.
Eating, Sleeping, etc.. we do it for ourselves, so we do not die
Giving a gift, we do it to show affection, which is selfish, because we give love to receive it........etc.....
This is the only thing i can think of that is not.......
2006-06-28 23:03:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only sometimes, no on can be selfless all of the time
2006-06-28 20:46:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no. It's impossible for a person to be totally selfless.
2006-06-28 20:47:42 · answer #8 · answered by Bast 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not relly even if someone tried at some point in life they have done one selfish thing Ive tried but no matter what you cant change the past even if you could people would rely on you too much so I say do what you think.
2006-06-28 20:49:58 · answer #9 · answered by ruletwogreen 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, of course, it can be done and it has been done by many wise sages, its one of the four noble truths
we all come from the all and its a matter of letting go, which can be hard, but everyone can
2006-06-28 20:48:54 · answer #10 · answered by yupi666 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋