Philosophical Questions: Altruism
Nov. 30th, 2024 12:02 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithPeople have expressed interest in deep topics, so this list focuses on philosophical questions.
If doing something good for others makes us feel good, can there ever be such a thing as pure altruism?
1) Doing good for others sometimes feels good, but other times it is hard and unpleasant. Also, some people feel good when helping others, but not necessarily everyone does. If you do it anyway, that is pure altruism.
2) Motive matters. If you do good for its own sake, that is pure altruism; if you do it because it feels good, that is gratification. Sometimes the two are mixed.
3) Helpiness is all about gratification and does not count as altruism. Masturbating your ego on someone else is not okay.
If doing something good for others makes us feel good, can there ever be such a thing as pure altruism?
1) Doing good for others sometimes feels good, but other times it is hard and unpleasant. Also, some people feel good when helping others, but not necessarily everyone does. If you do it anyway, that is pure altruism.
2) Motive matters. If you do good for its own sake, that is pure altruism; if you do it because it feels good, that is gratification. Sometimes the two are mixed.
3) Helpiness is all about gratification and does not count as altruism. Masturbating your ego on someone else is not okay.
