• Philosophy -> Ethics and Morality

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Is altruism truly a selfless act or is there always an underlying motive?

Hence Murley

Ah, altruism! The concept that makes us feel good about ourselves for doing something good for others. But is it really selfless or is there always something lurking beneath the surface? Let's dive in and explore this philosophical dilemma!

First and foremost, let's define altruism. According to good old Merriam-Webster, it is "unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others." Okay, cool. So basically, it means doing something nice for someone else without expecting anything in return. But here's the thing: can we ever truly do something without expecting some sort of benefit, whether it be tangible or emotional?

Let's take a simple example. You see a homeless person on the street and you feel compelled to give them some spare change. Why do you do it? Is it solely because you want to help them and make their day a little bit better, or is it also because you want to feel like a good person and have others view you as such? Even if it's just a tiny part of our motivation, there's always some sort of underlying benefit we're seeking.

However, some may argue that there are true selfless acts of altruism. For example, a soldier jumping on a grenade to save his comrades. In that moment, there's no possibility of any benefit for the soldier, as he will inevitably lose his life. But even in this scenario, one could argue that the soldier is seeking the benefit of preserving his beliefs or sense of duty.

Now, let's take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Is a little bit of underlying motivation such a bad thing? If it means helping others and making the world a better place, does it really matter if we're doing it solely for our own benefit? In fact, some studies have shown that performing acts of kindness releases the hormone oxytocin in our brains, which can lead to increased happiness and overall well-being. So maybe it's not such a bad thing to have some sort of selfish motivation behind our altruistic acts.

In conclusion, while altruism may never truly be 100% selfless, that doesn't mean it's not worth pursuing. Whether we're doing it because it makes us feel good or we genuinely want to make a positive impact on someone's life, the end result is still the same: we've done something kind for another human being. At the end of the day, that's all that really matters. So go out there and spread some love and kindness, whether it be for others or yourself (or both!).