I was browsing in another forum and read this post "So the past 2 days we've been debating this in class. My teacher said there is NO such thing as a selfless act. Everything we do is for selfish gain. I mean I don't really buy it. Then we brought up sacrifice and he said there is no such thing as sacrifice. Then of course we brought up saving somebody's life by ending yours and he said you do it because you think their life is more valuable than yours and yours isn't worth it. We even asked about Mother Teresa. He said her, like all other people, did all the community work and what not for personal fulfillment and not for the people she helped." you could make the argument that parents provide love, care, and sacrifice to a child, but in the end wouldn't the parent find fulfillment in watching their child grow up, hence making the act in self interest? Anyways, I just wanted to see some of your views on this subject!
I agree completely. But then again, selfish and selfless acts are merely words created by us. Can it really comprehensively define our actions?
It's called enlightened self-interest. I do 'good' because doing so gives me a good feeling. So it's selfish, essentially. Do you think Mother Teresa would have done what she did if it gave her a bad feeling? It brought her joy to do so, despite the hardships. Those who do good so they will get into heaven are selfish. People doing good because they want the world to be a better place are selfish--they are part of the world, no? BF
If I installed a brain controlling device in you and force you to do stuff, you will be doing a selfless act.
I agree with blackfish. Whether people ever do something selflessly I'm not sure that really matters. If someone does something good because they think that will get them into Heaven or just because it gives them a sense of fulfillment it doesn't matter whether it was selfless or not. I will say though that there are selfless acts. Those are irrational acts that aren't driven by any motivation.
I dunno... even if you jump on top of someone who is on fire trying to put them out... did you do it because deep down inside it'll make you feel better- no but I'd bet you did it because you couldn't stand to see someone burn
I suspect a debating teacher is trying to engage hisher students in get this ... a debate. A selfish act BTW
The soldier who throws himself on top of a grenade to save his comrades isn't committing a selfless act? I would beg to differ. It could be argued that most actions are for our own ultimate gain, or perceived gain, but there are instances where an individual acts for another regardless of the consequences. Keep D&D Civil.
Tell her reality transcends both self and non-self. Non-self exists as much as self. You are made of non-self elements. The two are not exclusive. You are a part of everything else. With this understanding, your acts can truly be selfless.
Or truly selfish since there is no difference between you and everything else your actions that benefit another really benefit you.
One can always look at the motive and say hey - it's a selfless act. I think the real question is this: Is there a difference between doing something for tangible gain versus a good feeling? If you decide to volunteer to help people and thus make you feel like a good person, or validate your values - is that any different then doing it because a cute girl asked you to do it? I don't really think so. It's the act and the benefit - not the reason. Now, if someone is trying to do something to try to put on a false front and then use that to get something else - clearly there might be an ethically issue...but if the act is just an act, and it's not something a person will try to exploit later on - I think that qualifies as selfless for all practical purposes.
If it's YOU who is doing the acting than yeah it's not a selfless act. how can it be? it's the self that is acting. the source of the action comes from the self. but i don't think it's the same as selfish, but it's more the self acting in a non-selfish way. i mean it's just the best we can do while we are still stuck in time with our ego as our identity. I remember reading somewhere that when Mother Theresa was asked why she did what she did she replied that when she looked into another face she saw jesus christ in every person. and another time a young man asked her how he could help her, could he offer money as support and she said no but he persisted, and finally she looked in his eyes and saw how sincere he was, then said "if you really want to help, get up at 4 am and go out into the streets and find someone, and convince them that they're not alone" now if that's the self at work, that has to be as close as the self can get to being selfless without totally letting go of itself which im not sure we can really do anyways if we want to still function in time.
