Is there really such a thing as altruism?

Answer 1

Yes. It's called love. We do things for others because we have the capacity to love. We can empathize with someone in need. Or we meet a need for our fellow human being simply because he or she is our fellow human being. There have been people who have risked their own safety and lives in the process of doing a "good deed" and rescuing another person. - or even an animal! (I almost drowned in a river- while rescuing a dog one time).
Of course there is such a thing as "altruism"
Regardless of people who say they do good to others to feel good about themselves....Not everybody is wired like that!

Answer 2

Altruism is selfless concern for the welfare of others. It is a traditional virtue in many cultures, and central to many religious traditions. In English, this idea was often described as the Golden rule of ethics. In Buddhism it is considered a fundamental property of human nature.

Altruism can be distinguished from a feeling of loyalty and duty. Altruism focuses on a motivation to help others or a want to do good without reward, while duty focuses on a moral obligation towards a specific individual (for example, a God, a king), a specific organization (for example, a government), or an abstract concept (for example, patriotism etc). Some individuals may feel both altruism and duty, while others may not. Pure altruism is giving without regard to reward or the benefits of recognition.

The concept has a long history in philosophical and ethical thought, and has more recently become a topic for psychologists, sociologists, evolutionary biologists, and ethologists. While ideas about altruism from one field can have an impact on the other fields, the different methods and focuses of these fields lead to different perspectives on altruism

Answer 3

I don't buy the idea (above) that we're altruistic in order to feel good about what nice people we are. That can be a reward, sure, but it's rarely enough to prompt real altruism. Some altruistic acts are a complete pain, and leave the altruist cold, wet and pissed off. But he'll help the little old lady get her car started anyway.

But we don't need such meagre and untrustworthy reward to be altruistic. It's not demand, but pressure-driven. We're compelled to be altruistic by the same instinct that impels such behaviour in all social animals. This instinct is a prerequisite for any social animal, and without it any society would rapidly sunder. The behaviour it creates is similar to, and probably a mutation of, the instinct to nurture offspring - but with a wider scope that includes all members of the social group.

Fundamentally, the instinct elicits behaviour that implements the Golden Rule, driven by a tendency to experience a degree of others' pain and pleasure as our own. We (or meerkats, or chimps) act so as to reduce the one and increase the other in all members of the society - to a degree that depends on kinship, acquaintance and hosts of other criteria. But even an unattractive, unrelated total stranger can expect some help in a crisis.

It's Morality, and it's built into us.

CD

Answer 4

No. Altruism is completely selfless concern for the well being of others, and as such a high ideal, it can only be aspired to. We are never completely selfless, even in the act of giving we are in part serving our selves - gratifying a need to feel like a "good" person. Giving makes us feel better about our selves, and is therefore not completely selfless as an element of personal interest makes a significant part of it.

Answer 5

strange, and against the laws of survival...altruism is not according to the idea that any human or animal behavior is headed to accomplished a need. Perhaps we should look for an inner "need" of us in order to be altruist. But, you could find some kind of altruism in animals that sacrifice themselves in order to let the most reliable to reporoduce (and therefore give de specie a chance). There most be a biological purpose we yet don't determine...for we must we aware that being altruist gives us endorphins, I mean: the feeling of happiness with ourselves (at least for most of us).

Answer 6

Read "The possibility of Altruism" by Thomas Nagel. He talks about how we do have a reason to be altruistic. That is not to say that we will actually act altruistically, but we have a reason to. This reason is not from a desire within ourselfs or from feeling of sympathy.

Answer 7

it is a creation of a mind out of idea, as anything else...absurdity. and creation of a mind usually taking over a creator.Although selfless act may be viewed as altruism...Altruism is that what you deliberately do...being selfless you do nothing...it does by itself.... There is old wisdom, never marry an idea ....do anything with it but do not marry...

Answer 8

I think unconditional love is altruism and unconditional love is arare thing indeed.

Answer 9

Yes, there is...if you search really hard, you will find it...it is hidden deep inside your soul...search and see...I suppose I am a little optimistic, but I think that we all should try to be altruistic...

Answer 10

Yes it is an unselfish concern for the welfare of others and selflessness.