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2007-03-26 03:44:03 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities Philosophy

13 answers

No, none.
We do things because of how it makes us feel about ourselves. No matter what we do, we do it for a reason.
Helping people, the environment, whatever, makes us feel good about ourselves. Simple as that. We get warm happy feelings, thats what we recieve in return.
I challange anyone to find ONE selfless good deed, brit_ney88@hotmail.com

2007-03-26 09:31:13 · answer #1 · answered by briee89 4 · 0 0

All good deeds have the potential to be selfless. Whether or not they are selfless depends on the frame of mind of the doer when they make the choice to do a good deed.

Some will say that no good deed can be selfless, because doing good gives the doer a feeling of self worth or gratification, thereby making even a good deed selfish. This is a mischaracterization of motivation for one reason: the only way a good action can be made selfish is if the doer did the good action BECAUSE they wanted to obtain the good feelings that would follow (or wanted to be recognized for their goodness by others). If the doer was not thinking about the rewards to be reaped when they made their decision to act, then those possible motives do not impact the value of the decision.

For example, if you pass a homeless person on the street and decide to give them your lunch because you know that you will feel guilty if you don't, or because you know you will feel good about yourself if you do, or because there is someone watching and you want to influence their opinion of you, then that action has lost some of its motiviational value. It is still a good thing to do, but it wasn't an entirely selfless thing. It was partly selfless because you lost your lunch, but it was partly selfish as well, for the reasons mentioned above. However, if you have no thought of how doing that same act will make you feel, or how it will make anyone else feel about you, and you simply do it because upon seeing the homeless person you are taken by a sympathy for them that compels you to want to do something for them, even if it will cost you something, that is a selfless act. Just because there are selfish things that could have motivated you, had you been thinking about them, doesn't mean that those selfish things actually were what motivated you.

2007-03-26 15:41:07 · answer #2 · answered by IQ 4 · 0 0

The deeds done by a Self realised person who is other wise called as an Atmavid or a Brahmavid are self-less.All self-less deeds are the best deeds.

2007-03-26 11:15:51 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Just opening/holding the door for someone (if that's considered at least a small good deed) is selfless. What would you gain for yourself by doing that?

2007-03-26 12:48:00 · answer #4 · answered by Summer I 3 · 0 0

Selfless deeds are possible only under the influence of momentary emotion. Logic does not support any totally selfless act.

2007-03-26 10:52:50 · answer #5 · answered by small 7 · 0 0

Yes. It only requires that the person intended no personal satisfaction from the deed.

2007-03-26 13:43:17 · answer #6 · answered by Answerer 7 · 0 0

Someday we will come to understanding of the term "all life is one". Then we will realize when we help "others" we are helping ourself. When we help our self we are helping others. Until that time we will continue to debate our illusions.

2007-03-26 11:51:03 · answer #7 · answered by stedyedy 5 · 0 0

probly not

my Dad thinks people only do things for self interest

maybe he is right, not sure

2007-03-26 10:54:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

of course.all good mothers practice them towards their children. if god exists all the good things that he sends you are selfless. beyond these two eventualities i doubt if there are any.

2007-03-26 11:08:33 · answer #9 · answered by fayssal1932 3 · 0 0

no all things are done because we want to do them and that bring self into everting we do .

2007-03-26 10:48:31 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

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