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Is it possible for an individual to perform a truly selfless act?
Or is this behavior always motivated by egocentric reasoning, like appearing generous to others or pursuing the good feeling one gets from helping others?
Yes. Some chick left $150 in the ATM the other day, I chased after her and gave it back to her without thought, because it's her money. True altruism is unconsidered kindness.
Is it possible for an individual to perform a truly selfless act?
Or is this behavior always motivated by egocentric reasoning, like appearing generous to others or pursuing the good feeling one gets from helping others?
That depends on what you define as selfless. What if the "return" is simply a feeling of joy for having helped a fellow human?
Random acts of kindness occur more often than people think. For example, a friend of mine borrowed a chiller fan from local businessman, found that it needed a new pump, bought the $50 part and fixed it so it could be used. The establishment that he was using it in later burned to the ground. He went to the businessman, that he borrowed the fan from, and explained the situation, offering to pay for the fan's replacement cost and asked what would be an acceptable amount.
The lender said that he would accept no payment, thanked my friend for his honesty, offered him condolences for his losses, due to the fire, and stated that he could never recall anyone making such an offer to him before. The lender then said that he was a bit upset that the loaned fan was not kept in proper working order, since he pays his employees well to ensure that his equipment (used for his business) is in good working order, and recalled that on several prior occasions in which equipment/tools that he had loaned were said to have "broken down" and they were either returned in unusable condition or the lendee had actually expected reimbursement to cover their repair costs.
That depends on what you define as selfless. What if the "return" is simply a feeling of joy for having helped a fellow human?
Random acts of kindness occur more often than people think. For example, a friend of mine borrowed a chiller fan from local businessman, found that it needed a new pump, bought the $50 part and fixed it so it could be used. The establishment that he was using it in later burned to the ground. He went to the businessman, that he borrowed the fan from, and explained the situation, offering to pay for the fan's replacement cost and asked what would be an acceptable amount.
The lender said that he would accept no payment, thanked my friend for his honesty, offered him condolences for his losses, due to the fire, and stated that he could never recall anyone making such an offer to him before. The lender then said that he was a bit upset that the loaned fan was not kept in proper working order, since he pays his employees well to ensure that his equipment (used for his business) is in good working order, and recalled that on several prior occasions in which equipment/tools that he had loaned were said to have "broken down" and they were either returned in unusable condition or the lendee had actually expected reimbursement to cover their repair costs.
It seems one could argue that the reward there was a boost in public opinion of the person. That could lead to more business in the future, etc.
Yes. Some chick left $150 in the ATM the other day, I chased after her and gave it back to her without thought, because it's her money. True altruism is unconsidered kindness.
ATMs only give 20$ bills! lying to look good eh, eh?!?
seriously though, you gave her the money back because its her money.... but why? Karma? God is watching you? Does doing the right thing make you feel good? I've done similar things, even giving back incorrect change, and that only benefits the store, not the cashier (although there might be consequences if the drawer is off at the end of the night), and every time i can identify an internal egocentric reason for my actions, even if its just to feel better about myself and my personal sense of honor.
ATMs only give 20$ bills! lying to look good eh, eh?!?
seriously though, you gave her the money back because its her money.... but why? Karma? God is watching you? Does doing the right thing make you feel good? I've done similar things, even giving back incorrect change, and that only benefits the store, not the cashier (although there might be consequences if the drawer is off at the end of the night), and every time i can identify an internal egocentric reason for my actions, even if its just to feel better about myself and my personal sense of honor.
One near me can do multiples of $10.
ATM's here dish out $20 and $50 notes.
Where is here? I'v never seen one do $50.
Australia.
Is it possible for an individual to perform a truly selfless act?
Or is this behavior always motivated by egocentric reasoning, like appearing generous to others or pursuing the good feeling one gets from helping others?
Not in my country.
There was no internal dialogue, it was simply "****, that chick left her money behind" followed by a brief jog and I handed it back. Without any sort of cost-benefit analysis prior to my actions, it can only be altruism. As I said, altruism in unconsidered kindness, an action that benefits another without kindness aforethought. I could ascribe a non-altruistic drive to my actions, such as guilt avoidance for inaction, but that would be an assessment in hindsight, rather than a conscious decision at the time.
Is it possible for an individual to perform a truly selfless act?
Or is this behavior always motivated by egocentric reasoning, like appearing generous to others or pursuing the good feeling one gets from helping others?
It seems way over-technical to argue that if someone so much as feels good about helping someone else, it makes the act selfish.Is it possible for an individual to perform a truly selfless act?
Or is this behavior always motivated by egocentric reasoning, like appearing generous to others or pursuing the good feeling one gets from helping others?
It seems way over-technical to argue that if someone so much as feels good about helping someone else, it makes the act selfish.
Is it possible for an individual to perform a truly selfless act?
Or is this behavior always motivated by egocentric reasoning, like appearing generous to others or pursuing the good feeling one gets from helping others?
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