Altruism: Understanding Selfless Acts

What is altruism and how does it differ from other behaviors?

Altruism is a moral principle that promotes both material and spiritual quality of life by showing concern for the welfare and/or pleasure of other people or animals. It is a cherished virtue in many societies and a fundamental component of many religious and nonreligious worldviews.

Altruism Definition

Altruism is the practice of acting in a way that benefits another person at the expense of oneself. Giving someone else your lunch, for instance, is altruistic since it satisfies their need while also leaving them hungry.

Exploring Altruism

Altruism is a form of prosocial behavior that involves selfless actions to benefit others, often at a personal cost. Based on this definition, all the options provided, such as donating blood or bone marrow, volunteering at a soup kitchen, donating money to the homeless, and working for a nonprofit organization can be considered forms of altruism as the individual foregoes personal benefit to aid others.

However, one can argue that the context of these actions is important. For example, if a person is working for a nonprofit organization for a salary, it might not be considered altruistic behavior since they are gaining a benefit (salary) from their actions.