Is a completely unselfish act possible?

Question

I feel that every action I take is out of selfishness, even if I think I am doing it for the right reasons and out of pure love. The truth is, even if I don't expect anything in return, if people never reciprocated any sort of love, I probably wouldn't put forth the effort to love them. So I'm just wondering if anyone thinks something can be completely unselfish...?

Answer 1

Very interesting question. I would say no because no matter what you do as a selfless act, you're getting something out of it for yourself. For example, the guy who pays his mom's rent is getting rewarded by his mother's appreciation. Even the person who threw the gold antique coin into the Salvation army box. No one knows who it was, but that person gets to feel good when they see the media coverage about it. So in reality, how an any act be truly unselfish since if nothing else, we get to feel good about having done it?

Answer 2

No. Almost by definition, the fact that you performed an act, means that you chose to do it. Why did you chose to do it? sometimes you need to ask why 2 or 3 times, to appreciate that your ultimate motivation in doing everything you do, is selfishness. That is, unless you are insane, or are forced to do something against your will, your choice to do something is made based upon your perception that it is a good (or the least harmful) act FOR YOU to do.

I believe that people do not have a choice in this matter; i.e. people cannot rationally behave otherwise. I have heard this theory called "psychological egoism".

I sometimes do things out of pure love for others, without any hope of reciprocity. But I obviously like to do things for the people I love, so I certainly get pleasure from doing it. I also do charity work for people I barely know, if at all. But it makes me feel good to do this for society and these people that need help.

I am completely comfortable with the fact that my actions are, at the deepest level, driven by my selfishness. A selfish world (which is what the world really is) can be a very good world.

Non-philosophers would say that my loving and charitable actions are altruistic (the opposite of selfish), but that's only because they are defining my actions at the surface level.

Answer 3

It's not because you get some sort of gratitude, or appreciation, or love that your act is selfish. I think the unselfishness outweighs the selfishness in the balance. For example, giving a part or most of your income to an impoverished country is being unselfish because you're sacrificing yourself. The fact that the people might appreciate it, is just an added bonus. And there's nothing wrong with that.

What's selfish is when for example you give a nice big gift to your girlfriend, expecting they give you something back.

So, when you give something without expecting something in return but that you get something in return anyway : unselfish

When you give something fully expecting some kind of return: selfish

:)

Answer 4

Yes I believe some acts can be completely unselfish. I have been paying my mum's rent for some time now. I would be insulted if my Mum offered something in return. I do this because I want to not for any recognition of the act. I believe that this falls into the selfless category. If you actually make an effort and do something for somebody with no thought of reward at all and don't feel let down when they do not return the same thing then that would be selfless.

Answer 5

An unselfish action can be noticed between a mother and her newborn baby. The mother showers all her love,affection and attention even when the baby is yet to open its eyes and understand the gestures.
The same action becomes difficult to follow in our times as we are held back by our ego and expectations, desires rule our thoughts and actions.
Unself acts are possible at the heart of truth (True Love).

Answer 6

There was only one completely unselfish act, and that was the work that Jesus Christ did on the cross.

Other than that, no, it is impossible for any human to do something that is completely selfless. We are fallen, and our nature is to do that which is evil so even when we try to do good we mess it up. Should we not bother then? That's like Paul's question, should we sin and let grace abound? God Forbid!!

Keep trying to do good (good being that which is God's Will) and if you are saved you will get rewarded for your efforts, but know that nothing you do can be COMPLETELY good.

God Bless

Answer 7

Sure! Just visit any place that feeds the homeless. All they get for their time and trouble is the chance to clean up after each session. That's unselfishness in action!

Answer 8

No.... no one in this world could be completely unselfish.
No one... not even Pope, pastors, priests, Mohammed or Haji. No one escapes selfishness in their life. Let's face it.
We all have selfishness and egocentricity in us. Because it's a human nature from the beginning in humans basic instinct and DNA. We can't avoid egocentricity at all from us because egocentricity is like oxygen to us. We live in it. We are a part of egocentricity. Egocentricity makes you to be the person who you are today. Egocentricity makes people want to have betterment in their life.

To have selfishness is not that bad, instead we need to be a bit selfish in this cruel and virulent life for the sake of survival. Otherwise you will end up like a loser and defeated person all the time.

BUT we really need to acknowledge and to differentiate where, when and to whom we could use our self-centeredness. We have to know how to use the selfishness in an appropriate time and place. You need your ego, if you don't have any ego you wouldn't be the person who you are today... you will be only an underdog, a whipping boy, a complete loser.... a defeated one.

Egocentricity is truly needed in our life, as long as you really know how to use it well....
Egocentricity could remain as a positive thing in your life, as long as you know how to consume it in a positive and appropriate way.
Most people appear to be so selfish and egoistical simply because they really don't know how to use their egocentricity in a good way. They really don't know how to apply egocentricity to their life in an effective way....
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Answer 9

sure, it's possible. people do nice things for each other all the time without expecting anything in return. i cook my husband dinner, he doesn't expect me to, i do it because i know he likes it. he goes to plays and garage sales with me because he knows i like it. this doesn't mean that we do things for each other and so it's now expected. people cannot be completely unselfish. one person may want to show love by saying nice words, another might show love by doing things, going places. we each have our own way of giving and getting love.

Answer 10

yes. think of it as giving a homeless man whom you dont know money for an apartment or something, and then leaving and never seeing them again. You wouldn't know if they spent it improving their lives or simply going toget some whiskey and a gun. but you'd have the feeling of having helped someone.