Is there such a thing as a truly unselfish act?
| Yes, there are unselfish acts. | 83 | |
| No, there aren't unselfish acts. | 35 | |
| I don't know. | 14 |
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TerryVie
yes. because there's things you do without even your brain rewarding you for being a good girl. Just hours ago, in the subway, and old man lost grip on his bag, which fell down, and you could see he had a hard time bending over...but even before i had, without thinking, already picked it up and gave it back, while my thoughts were still with something completely different. I just remembered this now.
Not a huge think, but exemplary. There's many "acts" that are of meaning to someone else, but unselfish because we do them en-passante...both positive and negative.
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flutterhigh
So... only a non-premeditated act can be selfless? I'm not sure I follow that logic. I suppose that makes sense in a literal interpretation of "selfless" in that your "self" isn't really involved in the action (if that makes sense), but selflessness usually involves some twinge of morality. Isn't a reactionary act like the one you've described kind of an amoral act?
The only arguably altruistic action I can't understand morally is selfless suicide.
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TerryVie
the point i tried to make(and in bad grammar/writing):
If you "consciously" do something for someone else, your brain will reward you for that.
It's not unselfish, doing something that results in a reward of feeling good and allows you to be satisfied with yourself.So, what i try to express is that despite that, there are many actions that are of no specific meaning to the person performing them, but of great meaning to the person benefacted by them.
Resulting in the act being truely selfless, because you are not even rewarding "yourself" in a mental way for doing it. That does not exclude acting based on morals. I grew up to be polite to my elders, offer senior citizens my place in public transport, that kind of stuff.
The fact i, as a young person, stand up and leave my seat to a much older person that needs it more, is an example of imprinted morals. I don't even think about it if i am busy phoning or reading a book, i acknowledge there are others that need it more and stand up without even interrupting what i did to tell them. And i know plenty of other people my age that would stay put and sit on their place...why should THEY stand up, and there's still a free seat at the other end of the bus...
Know what i mean? Just because you don't act consciously does not mean you have to act without morals...but i maintain that only acts done without intention of doing good can be selfless.Comment Hidden ( show )
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myownopinions
Yes, I think altruism is real, though some people might counter that you're actually just doing a good deed to feel good. Personally though, I think we all do some unconsciously nice things that we only feel good about 'after' we do the act.
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suckonthis9
I am hesitant to answer either yes or no on this question. Even acts that are volunteered or charitable can be considered to be selfish, as there are often personal rewards and social rewards to these.
It is ironic that in our current society, it is often those individuals who act selfishly, who are most rewarded.
The solution to this dilemma, I think, is to be less greedy, but have better quality, with the aim of a sustainable future.Comment Hidden ( show ) -
Captain_Kegstand
Few and far between, but yes, I think there are people out there that do nice things for others for absolutely no reason. This could be argued by saying that its not unselfish because it makes you feel good, but that's bull in my opinion!
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flutterhigh
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kingsleycrowne
A rescue worker paramedic who put his life on the line to save someone recently and was killed in the process made me vote yes for this.
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Koda
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Legion
wow, I wanted to say yes, but its hard to think of a situation where there is no benefit to you, but helps the other person.
I can think of many situations where it helps the other person more than you, but it gives you some benefit
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Nugenrules
always a selfish act. if u do something for someone, its selfish because you're only doing that because it makes you feel good about yourself.
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thinkingaboutit
I think mother Theresa was the epitome of unselfish acts, but she was kind of a nut.
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squirtle
nope, i really don't believe there is. ultimately, you are living for yourself. for example, if you help out others or give to charity, it's so you can feel better about yourself. if you give youself to God, it's so you can have a "better" life and afterlife for yourself. it always comes down to you, and it makes perfect sense.
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NocturnePonyFan
I am the world's biggest misanthrope. It has always been my feeling that there are no unselfish acts. Everyone acts nice and fake in order for their own personal gain. People are naturally selfish, and nobody does anything without thinking what's in it for them.
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Who_Fan4Life
Is masturbation an unselfish act? I mean HEY, millions of dreams and hopes die each time you masturbate! But you exchange that for self-pleasure.
Discuss below.
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Glass
sperm=/=people
On topic, yes. Say somebody drops something on the floor, I pick it up for them. I gain nothing in this process, I don't feel different emotionally, I don't gain anything physically, and the person who I helped I will almost certainly never see again, thus having no effect on me if I hadn't done anything at all. Would this not be unselfish, seeing as I have helped someone with no gain on my part, even if it is a miniscule difference?
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GuessWho
Yes, but it's quite rare.
The normal way of thinking (even if it's unconsciously) is to only do things if it's in your own best interest.
Doing things for the sake of others that will in no way improve our own lives is seen as a waste of effort and only done occasionally.I'm guilty of this myself, I usually don't help others if it will inconvenience me.
Obviously this excludes small tasks that only take a few seconds to assist someone and make no difference to our own lives.
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kingsleycrowne
http://www.theleader.com.au/news/local/news/general/paramedic-killed-during-rescue-remembered-as-a-true-hero/2408702.aspx
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