do all of them cause you to feel happy or benefit from it, or is it just happiness(selfishness)which prompts you to do a good deed?
2006-11-14 11:30:44 · 21 answers · asked by i am wot i am 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I suscribe wholeheartedly to ethical egoism, and therefore must disagree with everynody posting a "good deed" on this topic.
Somebody mentioned giving money to the homeless. How is this selfless? You make yourself look like a good person to the homeless while making yourself feel better at the same time.
Ethical egoism is a hard concept to grasp, but it rings true if you think about it enough. Every action we take is self serving. From being a "hero" firefighter that rushed into the WTC, or even helping an old lady across the street is self serving in its original purpose by the standards of ethical egoism.
2006-11-14 11:42:13 · answer #1 · answered by Random 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
"do all of them cause you to feel happy or benefit from it, or is it just happiness(selfishness)which prompts you to do a good deed?"
This question contradicts itself. The happiness, or selfishness as you call it, is the benefit. Happiness, however, is not selfishness, especially when it's retained through a good deed for someone else. Perhaps people do recieve a feeling of joy from commiting a good deed for someone, but that does not under any circumstances make it selfish. The word selfish usually refers to being inconsiderate towards others.. so you're saying that performing a good deed for someone and feeling proud that you made a difference in someone's life for the better makes you inconsiderate towards others?
If something prompts you to do a good deed, for instance if you mow someone's lawn and expect them to give you money in return, then yes, that is NOT a selfless act. A feeling of pride-joy-fulfillement on the other hand hardly classifies as doing something for yourself.
2006-11-14 19:46:32 · answer #2 · answered by celladorametal 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
A selfless deed no matter what it is, is an act of kindness in which the selfless person expects nothing in return. Some People just do it without any hesitation and think nothing of how it makes them feel. They think of the well being of others or their needs before thinking of their own. It takes a very special Person or Individual(s) to risk their own life to save another. To me? That is the ultimate risk anyone could ever do for another in an act of selflessness.
2006-11-14 20:58:49 · answer #3 · answered by Smahteepanties 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am certain that no purposeful action can be completely self-less.
Usually when people talk of selfish actions they are talking about actions that harm others in an attempt to benefit the person performing the action.
The best actions are those that benefit both the person performing the action and the people receiving the action.
2006-11-14 20:51:15 · answer #4 · answered by Michael M 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Several years ago a plane crashed on take off from a north eastern airport, there were suvivors in frigid waters ,it was bitter cold, a helecopter (on news camera) was attempting to rescue a woman,she was to week to hold onto the lifeline and fell back into the water,a man standing on the bank a few yards away,without a moments hesitation, dove into the water and saved her. As i relate this story i still get goose bumps all over from the unconditional love he displayed and evoked from all who saw this dramatic SELFLESS DEED.
2006-11-14 20:26:13 · answer #5 · answered by Weldon 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no matter what, people feel good for doing good things.. so one could argue that they are only selfish... i however dont think that fact diminishes the value of the good deed, although is is WHY we do them. i am certain that if humans or any other animal were not rewarded biochemically for actions that are good for the species as a whole, we would not do them. evolutionarily this has developed so as to facilitate cooperation and positive social behavior, enabling our species to live quite easily.
2006-11-14 19:36:33 · answer #6 · answered by causalitist 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. Read 'Looking Out For Number One' by Robert Ringer, and you will realize that selfishness motivates everything we do.
2. The book is in depth with life experiences, and also thought provoking. You may find yourself looking at situations and people differently after you have read it.
Good Luck and Warm Wishes
2006-11-14 20:14:15 · answer #7 · answered by mitch 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fighting Jihadists is a selfless good deed. I get no good feeling from this, its just a sense of duty I feel to humanity.
2006-11-14 19:38:51 · answer #8 · answered by Speech Hating Monkey 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Compassion.
2006-11-14 20:12:16 · answer #9 · answered by mack_cali 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you help a aged person or blind person to cross a busy traffic street you do it for humanities sake it is self less an gives satisfaction.
2006-11-15 00:13:23 · answer #10 · answered by Brahmanda 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋