We do everything for a reason - everything we do is done because it is what we WANT to do or else we wouldn't do it. Therefore all of our actions are working towards the satisfaction of our desires, whether they be to seek pleasure or to avoid pain. The school of thought is that the reason that people do good things is because it feels good to do so and is therefore, like everything else, is a selfish act. There are selfish acts that help others and those that harm others (traditional understanding of the word 'selfish') Sometimes people want to help each other because they know that if they don't they will be chastised later, or they know that they will recieve praise or gifts if they do. Other times people do good or selfless things just because it feels good, but why? Why does it feel good to help others and feel bad to not help them.
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empathy or lack thereof22% Voted for by happysassycassie, Ajay.
I believe it is because we observe others and try to understand them without even thinking about it. As I am trying to understand a person and I observe them, I put myself in their shoes and empathize with them. When they experience troubles or pain at this point I experience them as my own. When I feel someones needs as my own if I don't help them it's as though I were not helping myself. I can at this point choose whether to ceace observing/empathizing to go about my own business or to do something about the trouble/pain that I feel for this other person. Then why do people do selfish things (in the sense that they harm others?) People who act in a (traditionally) selfish manner observe others troubles but they do not see the other people as having needs and desires similar to their own. They are not putting themselves in their shoes or empathizing with them. Therefore they can see other people as objects or lesser beings, they do not have any motive at this point to act on anything but their own personal desires.
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To ease the pain of suffering.Voted for by katchi.
Most of the time, when we help others we help ourselves by easing the burden that could come if the needed help doesn't. To give a man $5 because he is hungry stopped him from breaking into a building and robbing someone, possibly even killing them; to help a child cross the street prevents another senseless loss of life, to help a person in need prevents suffering...but when you don't take the time to help those in a less fortunate situation, the situation always comes back to bite you on the ass.
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The AnimalVoted for by Beyond Zion.
The idea itself is a selfish gesture. To believe that we have evolved beyond our primordial instinct to survive is just ludacrious. We are still fundamentally animals. We are ourselves unwilling to introduce that very thing which may seperate us from the animal. In observing the flawed sense of behavior, we learn that human are more often considered the hybrid of evil and good, and only in true choice can we conclude altruism.
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selfish or selfless?Voted for by Beena.
I think we are all a combination of both, selfishness and selflessness because sometimes even we don't know where to draw the line and so may appear as selfish or selfless accordingly. However, since we do have a good idea of extremes, so we can always decide to bring our foot down somewhere and if we don't, then we CHOOSE to become or remain selfish or selfless.
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Selflessness is more Satisfying than SelfishnessVoted for by iGnitedFuse.
I think that when we are selfish, it is because we are ignoring our better judgement and going after what would please oneself with no thought of others; Whereas when one commits a selfless act it is because he/she is not at that moment concerned about their own satisfaction, they are forgetting themselves by putting someone else first. People should strive to be more selfless to increase everyones happiness. Selfish people are sneaky.
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EgoVoted for by riverdreams.
Selflessness feels better than selfishness because it's always better to hear someone else praise you than to praise yourself.
You never hear of someone thanking themself, and if you did you'd probably think "What a selfish idiot". If someone else thanks you, or is enriched by your actions, then other people see you in a better light.
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No such thing as selflessnessVoted for by 5th position Gb.
I don't know about everyone else, but I am selfish because I don't believe in the existence of selflessness. I exist to live, not to help others live.
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selfish?Voted for by amurray.
I learned the hard way not to be such a giver from the Lion King. Never give more than you receive.
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March 12, 2006
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