What is one real example of TRUE altruism?

Question: What is one real example of TRUE altruism!?

Where the intent of a good deed was not to gain a reward; that includes self satisfaction and a clear conscience!.

And does that imply that all humans are inherently selfish!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

The helping of anyone in urgent need, where the intention is to help them, would fit your definition!. When you're faced with the situation, you don't have time to think of the reward, because it's urgent!. You just act because it's needed!.

As to your additional details!. It seems that you have already made up your mind on this!. If I read your statement correctly, you're saying that all the firefighters and other rescue workers who went to peoples' aid on 9/11 acted out of self interest!. Considering how many of them died that day, I don't think their best interests were served!.
If selfishness is instinctive, then it's a Darwinian mechanism for survival!. The fact that some people can override that instinct and are prepared to sacrifice their life for somebody else, would satisfy my definition of altruism!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I don't think you'll find one using your inferred definition of reward!. Knowing that you have done or are doing the right thing is a reward, this reward could be more important to you than your desire to live, but you would still only be in it for the "reward"!.

Biologists have much more concrete definitions of altruism and selfishness!. Spending resources for the benefit of another is altruism, while all other acts are defined as selfish!. In this case, all animals are wired for altruism (ie feeding their young)

Using this definition, the fact that you get satisfaction from helping others shows that humans are inherently altruistic rather than selfish, at least when it comes to other people!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Off the cuff I would say yes to the question!.

Then I thought, because I was a nursee, when I seen an accident I get in my nurse mode and I get a rush from helping at the sceen!. I do so without a thought!. It seems purely selfless!. but if I think about it, I am feeding my own nature to care for people and in doing so I feel good inside!.

We all have selfish ways!. but there is a wide gammet of alturism!.

On a scale of 1 to 10, 20 being the highest altruism, I would be a 9!. I have actually had to learn to put myself first at tines!. I learned that I can't take care of those I love, or even a person in need that I don't know, I can't do it unless I take care of myself!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

True altruism is a benevolence act by someone who feels deeply about things and people within the world,and is willing to self sacrifice those rare virtuous qualities of kindness & giving without ever contemplating someone ever recipricating his/her deeds!.

An example of your question, would be the sole great altruistic acts of Dr Martin Luther King & Mahatma Ghandi would endeavoured to help change peoples views and oppinions about certain values held at the time (Colonial order by the British in India & Civil rights for African Americans in the US)

Today we would value these acts by King & Ghandi as unselfish acts of true altruism,because in the end, these leaders sacrificed themselves, for the greater good of their people and general well being of a nation!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Self-sacrifice, like where a person pushes another person out of the train tracks, but gets killed themselves, knowingly!. I mean, what's the advantage for the person getting killed!? What if they didn't believe in an afterlife!? Sure they may or may not love the person, but what's it in for them!? I don't think anything!.!.!. a death in front of a train is painful!.

We aren't inherently selfish!. Like Locke said, we are born with a blank slate of a mind!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I can't say that I can think of a truly altruistic act!. I do want to point out that that doesn't mean I think we are inherently selfish in the negative connotation!. Intelligent men act out of rational self interest!. I sometimes say selfish forgetting that most people have a totally different view on its meaning than I do!. It's a flaw of mine I suppose!.

“I swear, by my life and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine!.”---Ayn RandWww@QuestionHome@Com

All acts of will are selfish by this definition!.

True altruism would be anytime a person does something that hurts him/herself somehow, and helps another person!. If it helps the actor by making him feel better about himself, that doesn't really make it "selfish" to me!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

If you really wanna know!.!.!. You should know who Supreme Master Ching Hai is!. She is One Real Example of altruism and even beyond what altruism means!.

But many people don't understand Her and criticize Her!. but Master still loves them!.It's hard to comprehend the greatness of an Enlightened Master!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The consequence of altruism is supposed to be self satisfaction!. They go hand in hand and it doesn't make us selfish!. I might feel good if I give something away, yet feel better if I kept and still chose to give it away!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

omg!.!.!.!.!. ppl rote such long answerz!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!. but newayz!.!.!.!.!.!. i think tht itz cuz of humanity!.!.!.!.!.!. they hav the urge 2 help othrz cuz they care! !.!.!.!.!.!.!. but u cud say tht we're selfish, cuz sum ppl jst do it so they wudnt feel bad in the end (lyk if they dont help)!.!.!.!.!.!. sorry i cudn't reli answer ur question!.!.!.!.!. actually i dono the answer myself!.!.!.!.!.!. =(Www@QuestionHome@Com

The philosopher Compte devised the idea of altruism:
"Altruism: (Alter: other) In general, the cult of benevolence; the opposite of Egoism (q!.v!.)!. Term coined by Comte and adopted in Britain by H!. Spencer!.
1!. For Comte Altruism meant the discipline and eradication of self-centered desire, and a life devoted to the good of others; more particularly, selfless love and devotion to Society!. In brief, it involved [ ] self-abnegat[ion]"
http://www!.ditext!.com/runes/a!.html

I do not recommend "self-abnegation!."

"Altruism is the opposite of egoism!. The term “egoism” derives from “ego,” the Latin term for the English word “I”!. “Egoism” should be distinguished from “egotism,” which means a psychological overvaluation of one’s own importance, or of one’s own activities!."
http://www!.iep!.utm!.edu/e/egoism!.htm

Saving someone else's life while losing one's own is a very selfish act!. It means one could not live with one's own conscience if he did not do what he could!.

"What is the moral code of altruism!? The basic principle of altruism is that man has no right to exist for his own sake, that service to others is the only justification of his existence, and that self-sacrifice is his highest moral duty, virtue and value!.

"Do not confuse altruism with kindness, good will or respect for the rights of others!. These are not primaries, but consequences, which, in fact, altruism makes impossible!. The irreducible primary of altruism, the basic absolute, is self-sacrifice—which means; self-immolation, self-abnegation, self-denial, self-destruction—which means: the self as a standard of evil, the selfless as a standard of the good!.

"Do not hide behind such superficialities as whether you should or should not give a dime to a beggar!. That is not the issue!. The issue is whether you do or do not have the right to exist without giving him that dime!. "
“Faith and Force: The Destroyers of the Modern World,”
Philosophy: Who Needs It, 61!.

So, what is a real example of altruism!? Self-abnegation!. And as I said, I don't recommend that!. The man/woman who destroys his own ego and does not retain the "selfishness" of hating what he has done to himself, will be a "walking zombie!." Self-abnegation can lead to nothing less!.Www@QuestionHome@Com