is there such a thing as a unselfish act?

Question

if we get joy from doing something nice then is that why we do it or can you do something just becouse

so the end resalt of being happy frome being nice is not a reward so that is not whay we do good workes what about carma

holly that is it you understand what i was trying to say

Answer 1

its the yin and yang of it. Full circle, when you bless someone then you get blessed back. I don't tell anyone about the anonymous things I do and I get blessed ten times back. It seams like that anyway. I do things to make people happy, so unconsciously selfishly i get happiness back and the satisfaction of helping others through a hard time. OK! nothing I said makes since so to make it easy, no! But there are unselfish acts. I don't expect anything back in return.

Answer 2

Sure, there's a such thingas unselfish acts.
It's just simply putting the other person's needs above our own.
Such as:
Taking a bullet for someone even if you know you're going to die from it
Being friends with someone with AIDS and not caring what other people think
Giving away your last $1 that was to hold you another week because you knew someone needed it more than you
Giving away your shirt off your back because someone homeless is without enough clothes
Stopping a man from raping a woman even if it means landing in the hospital because the rapist won the fight
Saving a neighbor's cat who climbed a tree despite your fear of heights.
Helping a person with a gunshot wound despite seeing guts and you find guts gross, but that person REALLY needed the help.

Those are just some of the examples.
Princess Diana is a perfect example of not being selfish. She was RICH.
Same for actor John Schneider. He's rich, and he is a strong humanitarian. He feels as he cannot sit and do nothing when people are needing help with things. He once gave up half his proceeds to the Collier & Co. movie to help tornado victims in Alabama. Has anyone else done that. He is the reason for Children's Miracle Network. It was through that fundraiser I was able to get my child in seeing a children's hospital doctor some years ago.

We are to feel joy when we do things for other people. God would want us to feel joy in doing for others. If we don't feel joy in something, we won't be doing it out of sincerity, right?

But because I am a believer of God, I do try and make a point of not telling people the things I do for others. It's because if I tell others what I do for others, I won't get my reward in heaven; the award would be received on earth instead. But it is ok for me to talk about other people who do for others.

Answer 3

Yes based on these two summarized results.

An unselfish act touches an intangible and universal realm that all people can feel at the same time or separately. For there can be an act done that is anonymous for the benefit of the one to receive it. This whole episode encompasses an act of compassion from the one doing it to the response of gratitude from the one receiving it. There is an overall result of goodwill toward man.

But a selfish act remains only within the one who wants to get pleasure only for himself. He is not thinking how his actions will impact the other person. And mostly these acts will result in the demoralization of goodwill between men.

Answer 4

Ah so you subscribe to the theory that no-one does anything for anyone, unless there's a personal benefit involved for them.

Too much of that in the world today unfortunately.

I saw an unselfish act in the news during Christmas week, an older gentleman whose name is Nicola , played Santa Claus to children in Haifa. Both muslim and christian children or any child . What did he get out of it , other than the pr? According to him seeing children smile and be joyful in an area where there is not much peace and joy 364 days of the year. That was an unselfish act.

People do random acts of kindness all the time , they do it because it makes them feel better about themselves, makes them feel they are making a difference in the world.

I worry more about people who see an angle in every action than those who do random acts of kindness.

Answer 5

Pleasant feelings is not a good argument against altruism. How can we explain a solider on the battlefield throwing himself on an explosive to save his comrades? How can we explain a man that dies pushing a child out of the of an oncoming truck? These acts of heroism are split second decisions. I don't think these people had the time to think about whats right and wrong. They acted out of inclination. The only way to rationally justify a biological organism putting its survival at risk by attempting to save another is that person was generally concerned of the welfare of others. So much so that he put their welfare before his own. Genetically we are hardwired to maintain survival at all costs. Allot of the things we do (eat, work, drink, etc) are actions aimed at keeping us alive. We have evolved to have a hyperactive agency detector. This is why our brains fool us into thinking that a stick is a snake. Biologically speaking what do u think is more important to an organism - survival or pleasant feelings? When an person puts there lives at risk whether it be an organ transplant, acts of heroism, defending a lady from attackers etc. I`m inclined to think these acts are truly altruistic in nature.

Answer 6

There is a theory that says that there is no such thing. Why? Because even when you do something supposedly truly altruistic, it will make you feel good. Since that gives you a selfish motivation, it is not completely selfless. That being said, it doesn't mean that people shouldn't do good things for others. If its mutually beneficial in some way, so much the better!

Answer 7

yes, there is a such thing of unselfish acts. regardless if you are rewarded with that warm feeling inside for doing something nice, if you do something nice for someone else with intent on getting nothing out of it , then thats an unselfish act, the satisfaction of being nice is just a bonus.

Answer 8

You can do something for purely unselfish reasons, but still feel joy in the happiness of the recipient of your unselfish act. There is nothing selfish about feeling joy in that happiness , as long as that isn't your motive.

Answer 9

There is such thing as an unselfish act. Mostly beacause do it without thinking what its gonna do for u but rather for the person that your helping.

Answer 10

lets test the theory of helping.
MY mom needs Surgery (cataract and knee replacement) she is 79 and in a wheelchair, I take care of her fulltime and have been layed off from my job of 12 years. here is her paypal address lets see how many help her. I already know the answer 0 . That is the world we live in today.
[e-mail]
I have always been a good borther and friend to all
those in my life. and when i need their help they just say PUT her in a nursing home. Thats the real world NO ONE CARES