The Return of Selfishness

[anon]

@Anthem

@anon

But that’s my point exactly. I’ve never heard of anyone who believes this, whether in word or in deed. It’s the ultimate strawman.

There’s another ad squared

I disagree. There is no such “altruist system”. I Googled that and only found “No simple system could meet the requirements of altruism because of its regard for relationships and situations.”.

Anyway, I’m not really much of an altruist. I just know that considering the needs and desires of others in a general way leads to a far greater sense of wellbeing for myself as well. I’m aware that many “altruistic types” are really just spreading their dissatisfaction around and mistakenly thinking it the same thing as benefitting others, but I consider that another subject.

[Anthem]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altruism_(ethics

Altruism is an ethical doctrine that holds that individuals have a moral obligation to help, serve, or benefit others, if necessary at the sacrifice of self interest. Auguste Comte’s version of altruism calls for living for the sake of others. One who holds to either of these ethics is known as an “altruist.”

…

James Fisher and Bradley Dowdwen, in the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, states the altruist dictum as: “An action is morally right if the consequences of that action are more favorable than unfavorable to everyone except the agent.” Altruism may be seen as similar to utilitarianism, however an essential difference is that the latter prescribes acts that maximize good consequences for all of society, while altruism prescribes maximizing good consequences for everyone except the actor.

So, yes, yes there is an “altruist system”, you just weren’t looking in the right spot I also don’t agree that it’s possible to attain, but it’s possible to idealize.

You might be a utilitarianist.

[anon]

@Anthem

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altruism_(ethics)

Altruism is an ethical doctrine that holds that individuals have a moral obligation to help, serve, or benefit others, if necessary at the sacrifice of self interest. Auguste Comte’s version of altruism calls for living for the sake of others. One who holds to either of these ethics is known as an “altruist.”

…

James Fisher and Bradley Dowdwen, in the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, states the altruist dictum as: “An action is morally right if the consequences of that action are more favorable than unfavorable to everyone except the agent.” Altruism may be seen as similar to utilitarianism, however an essential difference is that the latter prescribes acts that maximize good consequences for all of society, while altruism prescribes maximizing good consequences for everyone except the actor.

So, yes, yes there is an “altruist system”, you just weren’t looking in the right spot I also don’t agree that it’s possible to attain, but it’s possible to idealize.

You might be a utilitarianist.

Kind of. I’ll go along with the idealization to the extent that even when we don’t understand how doing something for others benefits ourselves, it still can, if it’s not based on some sort of delusion.

[Anthem]

@anon

…even when we don’t understand how doing something for others benefits ourselves, it still can…

That’s the reality. The ideal is that it shouldn’t matter, and doesn’t insofar as determining the good of the action.

[Wonderer]

@Anthem

@anon

…even when we don’t understand how doing something for others benefits ourselves, it still can…

That’s the reality. The ideal is that it shouldn’t matter, and doesn’t insofar as determining the good of the action.

we’re all caught between curiosity and pragmatism…