We are driven in life by our desires, whether it be our desires to be accepted, acknowledged or valued for who we are and these desires are technically selfish in the fact that they are our wants and for us. What we do to fulfill our desires it what shapes who we are. And instead of becoming confused with the technicality of whether our actions are selfless why not focus on the fact that so many people have the capacity to do nice things just to feel good about themselves with demand for not other reward. That's why we should do good things....becuase it feels good. If there was no reward then why would people feel the urge to act positively towards each other? God didn't make sex so much fun because he didn't want us to do it, eh? It's likewise with good deeds.
A few years back I was backpacking through New Zealand and decided to hitch hike around the north Island. A guy picked up me and my partner (at the time) and drove us 100 miles north. During the journey he offered to put us up in his house for the night. We obliged and that night two complete strangers sat and had dinner with his wife and beautiful kids and later slept in one of his children's beds (obviously not while they were there) and had the most wonderful time. The next day he drove us onto the next town. We said thank you and went on our way. As I he drove off I couldn't help but feel like I wanted to give him something more than a thank you to show my gratification. But he did get something out of it, he left knowing he'd made a difference to two peoples lives and its a memory that I'll never forget. It gives me faith in humanity. Sod whether its selfless or not- if there were more people in the world doing things for others just for that feel good feeling then it would be a better place for us all.
Is there such a thing as a truly selfless act?
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We are driven in life by our desires, whether it be our desires to be accepted, acknowledged or valued for who we are and these desires are technically selfish in the fact that they are our wants and for us. What we do to fulfill our desires it what shapes who we are. And instead of becoming confused with the technicality of whether our actions are selfless why not focus on the fact that so many people have the capacity to do nice things just to feel good about themselves with demand for not other reward. That's why we should do good things....becuase it feels good. If there was no reward then why would people feel the urge to act positively towards each other? God didn't make sex so much fun because he didn't want us to do it, eh? It's likewise with good deeds.
A few years back I was backpacking through New Zealand and decided to hitch hike around the north Island. A guy picked up me and my partner (at the time) and drove us 100 miles north. During the journey he offered to put us up in his house for the night. We obliged and that night two complete strangers sat and had dinner with his wife and beautiful kids and later slept in one of his children's beds (obviously not while they were there) and had the most wonderful time. The next day he drove us onto the next town. We said thank you and went on our way. As I he drove off I couldn't help but feel like I wanted to give him something more than a thank you to show my gratification. But he did get something out of it, he left knowing he'd made a difference to two peoples lives and its a memory that I'll never forget. It gives me faith in humanity. Sod whether its selfless or not- if there were more people in the world doing things for others just for that feel good feeling then it would be a better place for us all.