Altruistic Ideology
An Altruistic Ideology is a moral ideology that recommends altruistic acts (that increase the well-being of other beings).
- Context:
- It can lead to Altruistic Acts (modeled by altruistic tasks) that focus on enhancing the quality of life for others without seeking personal gain.
- It can be associated with an Altruistic Person who lives according to altruistic principles, prioritizing the needs and welfare of others.
- It can shape the values and behaviors of an Altruistic Community that collectively adopts altruistic norms, often visible in charitable organizations and humanitarian movements.
- It can influence national policies and the culture of an Altruistic Nation that promotes foreign aid, disaster relief, and pro-social initiatives on a global scale.
- It can serve as a guiding principle in many ethical frameworks and philosophical traditions, such as Utilitarianism, Compassionate Ethics, and Effective Altruism.
- It can form the basis of various religious or spiritual traditions, where the focus is on compassion, selflessness, and the golden rule of helping others, as seen in Buddhism, Christianity, and Jainism.
- It can lead to a sense of moral duty or obligation in individuals who believe that their primary responsibility is to benefit others, even at a cost to themselves.
- It can motivate individuals and groups to engage in social justice movements aimed at reducing inequalities and protecting vulnerable populations.
- It can be manifested through personal or organizational commitments, such as pro bono work, volunteerism, charitable donations, and community service.
- It can vary in intensity, ranging from small acts of kindness to significant lifelong commitments, such as joining altruistic movements like the Peace Corps or Doctors Without Borders.
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- Example(s):
- Secular Altruistic Ideologies (which advocate for pro-social actions based on humanistic and rational principles), such as:
- Effective Altruism, which promotes using evidence and rational analysis to identify the most impactful ways to improve the well-being of others.
- Humanitarianism, which emphasizes concern for the welfare and dignity of all human beings, often through human rights advocacy and emergency response.
- Religious and Spiritual Altruistic Ideologies (which are guided by spiritual and moral beliefs about compassion and selflessness), such as:
- Christian Altruism, which is rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ and emphasizes compassion, charity, and the golden rule.
- Buddhist Compassionate Ethics, which stresses compassion (Karuna) and the alleviation of suffering for all sentient beings.
- Jain Ahimsa, which emphasizes non-violence (Ahimsa) towards all living beings, reflecting a commitment to universal altruism.
- Philosophical Altruistic Ideologies (which derive from ethical theories about maximizing well-being and minimizing harm), such as:
- Utilitarianism, which advocates for actions that maximize overall happiness and minimize suffering for the greatest number.
- Compassionate Ethics, which emphasizes the cultivation of empathy and compassion as central moral virtues.
- …
- Secular Altruistic Ideologies (which advocate for pro-social actions based on humanistic and rational principles), such as:
- Counter-Example(s):
- Selfishness, which prioritizes personal benefit over the welfare of others.
- Psychological Egoism, which argues that all human actions, even those that appear altruistic, are ultimately driven by self-interest.
- Ethical Egoism, which posits that individuals should act in their own best interest as a moral duty.
- Spite, where harm is caused to others without benefiting oneself, standing as the opposite of altruism.
- See: Effective Altruism, Altruistic Philosophy, Moral Courage, Happiness, Virtue.
References
2021
- (Wikipedia, 2021) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altruism Retrieved:2021-9-2.
- Altruism is the principle and moral practice of concern for happiness of other human beings or other animals, resulting in a quality of life both material and spiritual. It is a traditional virtue in many cultures and a core aspect of various religious traditions and secular worldviews, though the concept of "others" toward whom concern should be directed can vary among cultures and religions. In an extreme case, altruism may become a synonym of selflessness, which is the opposite of selfishness.
The word "altruism" was popularized (and possibly coined) by the French philosopher Auguste Comte in French, as altruisme, for an antonym of egoism. He derived it from the Italian altrui, which in turn was derived from Latin alteri, meaning “other people” or "somebody else". Altruism in biological observations in field populations of the day organisms is an individual performing an action which is at a cost to themselves (e.g., pleasure and quality of life, time, probability of survival or reproduction), but benefits, either directly or indirectly, another individual, without the expectation of reciprocity or compensation for that action. Steinberg suggests a definition for altruism in the clinical setting, that is "intentional and voluntary actions that aim to enhance the welfare of another person in the absence of any quid pro quo external rewards". In one sense, the opposite of altruism is spite; a spiteful action harms another with no self-benefit.
Altruism can be distinguished from feelings of loyalty, in that whilst the latter is predicated upon social relationships, altruism does not consider relationships. Much debate exists as to whether "true" altruism is possible in human psychology. The theory of psychological egoism suggests that no act of sharing, helping or sacrificing can be described as truly altruistic, as the actor may receive an intrinsic reward in the form of personal gratification. The validity of this argument depends on whether intrinsic rewards qualify as "benefits".
The term altruism may also refer to an ethical doctrine that claims that individuals are morally obliged to benefit others. Used in this sense, it is usually contrasted with egoism, which claims individuals are morally obligated to serve themselves first. Effective altruism is the use of evidence and reason to determine the most effective ways to benefit others.
- Altruism is the principle and moral practice of concern for happiness of other human beings or other animals, resulting in a quality of life both material and spiritual. It is a traditional virtue in many cultures and a core aspect of various religious traditions and secular worldviews, though the concept of "others" toward whom concern should be directed can vary among cultures and religions. In an extreme case, altruism may become a synonym of selflessness, which is the opposite of selfishness.