2006-08-08 04:49:59 · 24 answers · asked by Petey 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Keep in mind that giving money to someone, even anonymously still means that you know you gave that money, which means you get some kind of good feeling about it
2006-08-08 04:56:34 · update #1
Yes, no
Yes, because people may have no conscious thought of a good deed when it is done i.e. rescuing someone as an automatic reaction.
No, because the person would have been programmed and have chosen a moral code by which to act in order to be at peace with themselves....self is involved.
2006-08-08 04:54:32 · answer #1 · answered by grapeshenry 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From a perfectly pragmatic standpoint, no. It would only be selfless if we did it anonymously (and so gained nothing socially or materially) AND did not intend it to be a good deed (and so felt no moral satisfaction). But if it wasn't intended as a good deed, then then it was just a fortunate outcome to an otherwise-motivated action, not a good deed.
2006-08-08 11:57:48 · answer #2 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
of course
but being that it may be a selfless good deed does not mean we can not feel good about it, so if we do get a good feeling from doing good it is still a selfless act in that we get nothing from it, other than the knowledge that what we did will benefit someone else and make their day (and world) brighter and better.
2006-08-08 11:56:23 · answer #3 · answered by drgn grl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes; but Baha'u'llah (the Prophet-Founder of the Baha'i Faith) says that if you tried to think of what that completely unselfish deed was, you wouldn't be able to; because, if you COULD remember it, it wouldn't be completely unselfish. The reward for commiting a completely unselfish deed, is hearing about the Baha'i Faith. And that's what you've just done; so you, and everyone who is reading this, must have committed a completely unselfish deed some time in your lives.
Congratulations!
Check out the website in my source, and collect your reward.
I checked it out 38 years ago; and what a ride it's been!
For example, I write this from China; after having lived in El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, Costa Rica and Israel; and may be on my way to Africa! What a life it's been! I could never have imagined it in my wildest dreams, when I checked it out.
2006-08-08 12:25:49 · answer #4 · answered by GypsyGr-ranny 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I think so.
An example - during the holiday season, I had to search for a parking spot at the airport and ended up at the very end of a row. After I parked my car and was walking towards the terminal bus, I saw someone else pull out of a spot a few places up from where I was. As I continued to the bus stop, I saw someone else coming down the row, looking for a spot. I caught his attention and pointed out the one that had just been vacated (it was next to an SUV and he hadn't been able to see it).
As a result, he found a spot and made it onto the terminal shuttle bus just before it left, instead of having to wait 10 minutes for the next one.
What did I gain from pointing out a parking spot? Nothing. I had already parked, I had no idea who the guy was, and it was just a nice thing to do. What did he gain? A little extra time during a hectic holiday season.
Edit to add - in response to the person below, it sounds as though you think I was then patting myself on the back going "See what a nice person I am?" No, there was a spot that he was looking for that he couldn't see. I could, so I pointed it out for him, and went on with my life.
2006-08-08 11:55:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. People often do good deeds to make themselves feel better or to make up for things. It's really hard to say but in the end I don't think there are selfless good deeds.
2006-08-08 11:54:14 · answer #6 · answered by Vero 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Any altruistic act, even if painful, has secondary emotional gains. Some examples would be enhancing one's own self-image as a good, noble, or heroic, etc. person; or one may believe the act will gain the approval of members of society in much the same way. Even an act motivated by love is self-serving, as we wish to have access to the object of our love for our own satisfaction.
Edit
Take as an example the answer previous to mine. What did she gain by pointing out a parking spot? The occasion to think "I am a good person who does nice things and shares." See?
2006-08-08 11:55:51 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I mean... usually if I give change or a few bucks to a homeless person, I consider that a selfless good deed.. I'm not getting anything out of it.. and I'm not looking to get anything out of it, I'm just hoping that change or that few bucks can help them get some food.
2006-08-08 11:54:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no because everyone receives some sort of reward for doing anything, even if it doesn't appear so...ask volunteer why they volunteer, they say it makes them FEEL GOOD to help others (in otherwords they like the feeling THEY get). That doesn't mean helping others and doing charity work just to make yourself feel good is bad, others DO benefit from it, but nothing is purely selfless in that aspect.
2006-08-08 11:59:07 · answer #9 · answered by Kat__hleen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I beleive not.
No matter what the situation, people do things for some reason. Donating money - they make certain everyone knows it was them that donated it. Look at Angelina Jolie and all her babies and charity. Does she do it selflessly? Absolutely not...even if the reason is "because it makes me feel better", that is still a selfish reason. Doesnt make the act of donation any less relevant, but it is still done for a personal reason.
Gay Jesus says it best....
2006-08-08 11:57:10 · answer #10 · answered by YDoncha_Blowme 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋