when we help someone,even if they don,t know who did it, we still benefit from it by feeling good at what we have done. is that still selfless?........
2006-09-06 02:45:22 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
not if you enjoyed doing it.
2006-09-06 02:47:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only an act of kindness or generosity that was done without you knowing could potentially be truely selfless because as human beings we enjoy feeling like we've helped others and then the selfless part is negated. Maybe cleaning someone's car whilst sleep walking might count for example ;o)
2006-09-06 02:47:54 · answer #2 · answered by seaside_girl_03 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do not think it is completly selfless as the very fact of helping someone makes us feel good, even if they did not know it was you who helped. Maybe if you really didnt enjoy helping them and they didnt know it was you and you got no satifaction from the act but I am hard pressed to think of a situation that would cover all of thise points. But it has to be said helping people, even if it is not completly selfless is worthwhile.
2006-09-06 03:06:02 · answer #3 · answered by edwardgrove 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Usually, people do good things because either they are afraid of hell, they feel good about their actions, or they feel that doing so is good for thei reputation. Either way, the person feels that he/she benefits.
Every action can somehow be traced to selfishness. Let's take an unbelievably "unselfish" action for instance: A man somehow sacrifices himself to save his wife's life. This seems selfless, but the reason for the action would most likely be knowledge that he could not live with the guilt of knowing that he could have said his wife.
2006-09-06 03:45:47 · answer #4 · answered by x 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it's natural to feel good after a good deed , it releases chemicals that make us feel positive about ourselves which often comes as a surprise to even the most hardened cynic. A completely selfless gesture would have to be carried out by a zombie who happened to help rather by accident than intent.
2006-09-06 02:54:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good question...I was going to say that I would do all sorts for my kids that was selfless but when I think about it more...I'm doing it because I want them to be happy which would make me happy in return so maybe not.
2006-09-06 02:48:27 · answer #6 · answered by Gypsie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as you don't start telling the world what a wonderful person you are I would say it is still selfless... Jim
2006-09-06 02:48:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It isn't selfish if the feeling good aspect happened as a result of the good deed but it is selfish if the primary reason for doing the the deed was for the feel good factor.
I think no matter what if you've helped someone do something it isn't selfish...so pat yourself on the back
2006-09-06 02:48:35 · answer #8 · answered by Emma O 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No I dont think that its a selfless act.
2006-09-06 02:48:56 · answer #9 · answered by sexykitty614 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. That is what Bhagawat Geetha teaches. The most amazing spiritual life in any holy book. I am not a Hindu, but while reading this is what I felt.
2006-09-10 01:51:35 · answer #10 · answered by latterviews 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes I believe so. Laying down your life for somebody else.
2006-09-06 04:12:23 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋