Is 100% (total) altruism possible?
is it possible to give all of yourself and be 100% selfless in any given situation with anyone or anything? and have no self gain at all.
| yes | 14 | |
| no | 32 | |
| other? (explain) | 4 |
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is it possible to give all of yourself and be 100% selfless in any given situation with anyone or anything? and have no self gain at all.
| yes | 14 | |
| no | 32 | |
| other? (explain) | 4 |
My belief is that everything done with intention is done selfishly.
That's not a negative judgement either. It's just inevitable. You cannot purposely do anything without it in some way being selfish.
Although perhaps the word 'selfish' is inherently pejorative? I don't know... When I say selfish, I mean done to benefit self - but not necessarily exclusively. Perhaps selfishness means beneficial ONLY to ones self?
Yes, by answering this poll. I gain nothing, you get your answer, and I didn't enjoy it at all.
You do, otherwise logically you would never speak unless it was unavoidable.
Hmm, I guess with any situation you can find something selfish about it. I'd rather not do that when someone does something good, though.
Hmm good question. It depends on whether the satisfaction is intentional satisfaction or not, because completely losing the ego is, from what I hear, very enlightening, and if you lose your ego for the sake of loving humanity, you are in turn going to gain a lot, from that by feeling free of worry and self. Idk if I'm making sense at this point but it seems like no matter what you do, you will always benefit in some way or another.
there is a healthy middle point between 100% selfish and 100% altruistic imo
No. Even in nature, altruism is intended for the greater good of the species.
Giving yourself to someone else and neglecting yourself is 100% self hatred. People should help each other out, but definitely not at the cost of their own welfare. Self love is vital. Obey the walrus.
I agree with disthing, so my comment is just going to build on what he said.
I suppose I don't believe in altruism, but in a way it doesn't matter. If I feel an uncontrollable obligation to be selfless, is acting on that feeling altruism or selfishness? The action itself is selfish because I'm only doing it to reconcile my uncontrollable desire to do it, but the outcome (the important part, from the perspective of the rest of the world) is selfless. It's selfish selflessness.
If you believe in altruism you have to believe in free will, and I'm not sure I believe in free will. In fact, I'm almost sure that I don't. So maybe altruism doesn't exist, but the outcome of selfishly-motivated actions can be selfless.