Can helping other without reward ever be selfish?

Answer 1

No Not selfish.
It may be foolish.
One must always ask themselves why do I do this
Perhaps they have a hidden agenda which says " I am helping someone, therefore I am an important person "
There is seldom a sincere pure reason behind an individuals need to be a samaritan.
The unselfish are trully a rare breed

Answer 2

If there is no reward then technically no. Of course, there is always a reward of some kind, even if the reward is just the warm & fuzzy feeling inside of being a good person & feeling like a hero & helping someone out but I don't think this would make someone selfish.

Even when someone appears to be selfless, a martyr, there is still a reward of some kind or they would not be doing it. Some people enjoy being a martyr. There is a certain romantic tragic quality to putting yourself last & suffering to save someone else. But I still wouldn't call such a person selfish.

As human beings, we don't do anything at all without a reason. There is always some personal benefit, though we may be reluctant to admit or acknowledge it. It's just human nature.

Answer 3

Only if that person does it without patting themselves on the back.

Then again, feeling good about onesself IS a form of reward I guess....

So I suppose if you help someone just to make yourself feel good and look good to others without adding compassion for the person you're helping into the equation, that could be considered selfish.

Answer 4

Have you just been reading Ayn Rand?

BTW, my answer is yes. I think the best illustration of a "selfish" selfless act is in the story of The Onion by Dostoevsky:

"Once upon a time there was a peasant woman and a very wicked woman she was. And she died and did not leave a single good deed behind. The devils caught her and plunged her into the lake of fire. So her guardian angel stood and wondered what good deed of hers he could remember to tell to God; 'She once pulled up an onion in her garden,' said he, 'and gave it to a beggar woman.' And God answered: 'You take that onion then, hold it out to her in the lake, and let her take hold and be pulled out. And if you can pull her out of the lake, let her come to Paradise, but if the onion breaks, then the woman must stay where she is.' The angel ran to the woman and held out the onion to her. 'Come,' said he, 'catch hold and I'll pull you out.' he began cautiously pulling her out. He had just pulled her right out, when the other sinners in the lake, seeing how she was being drawn out, began catching hold of her so as to be pulled out with her. But she was a very wicked woman and she began kicking them. 'I'm to be pulled out, not you. It's my onion, not yours.' As soon as she said that, the onion broke. And the woman fell into the lake and she is burning there to this day. So the angel wept and went away. "

The story is from the Brothers Karamazov. And I believe that the selfishness comes from claiming one's good deed as the source of one's pride. But without even this kind of selfishness, how will most people be able to bear being good?

Answer 5

You have already answered your own question..., If you don't wan't anything in return, yes, then it is called selfless or without self interest, but if you want anything in return, any gain or expectation, then it is called not pure selfless help. That includes desire for name and fame, respect, distinction, followers, personal help, etc. Not accepting anything gross-material, like money or any other pay, doesn't mean your help is selfless. And if you dig wells in 3rd world countries, open hospitals for sick people, give charity to poor people, distribute food to the hungry one's, help suffering animals, but you do it for your own name, fame, respect, distinction, worship, increasing followers, political motives, etc, outside showing that you are helping everyone..., that is certainly selfish,

Answer 6

NO. Selfish implies putting yourself into something for personal gain. Selfless is an oxymoron in this statement.

Answer 7

I even have melancholy, rigidity, and OCD; and that is extremely annoying to tackle, so i understand what you recommend. yet you will possibly desire to do extra desirable than pray to God, you will possibly desire to truly replace your entire outlook on existence. Get extra in touch with God, as a replace of only praying attempt to examine the bible for uplifting fees and get some information of it. pass to church and attempt to stay beneficial. I even have felt such as you maximum of situations, yet God has a plan for all individuals, do not provide up. Oh and you besides might can not count number completely on praying, you will possibly desire to help your self besides.

Answer 8

Not conciously, but I have found that if you do help others in need, you reap a reward , in some form or the other - someday or the other........

Answer 9

Only the individual helper would know the answer to that, but I would say, yes it could. Especially in the case of a sociopath.

Answer 10

Yes, absolutely. If you do it only to make yourself feel better - that is a selfish act.