Is True Selflessness a Myth?

Started by SirBoglor January 19th, 2017 12:01 PM
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  • 6 replies

SirBoglor

It's over, isn't it?

Age 24
Male
National Park, Johto Region
Seen December 22nd, 2018
Posted January 3rd, 2018
528 posts
7.6 Years
This comes from something thought provoking that I heard the other day from an anime that I watched (Kokoro Connect, if you're curious.)

The gist of the concept is that while it may seem like we're doing something selfless, deep down we always have our own interests in mind. If you hold open a door for a stranger, it's because you want to make a friend. If you were to even sacrifice your life for someone, it's because you like them and you don't want them to die. Deep down, we are all selfish.

As someone who tries to help others more often than not, this really had me thinking. And to be honest, I agree with this concept. Deep down, I always have my own interests in mind. But is that necessarily a bad thing? No, I don't think so. Wanting to be a kind person isn't a bad thing, even if your intentions aren't as pure as you may think.

Anyways, what do you guys think? I'd really love to here PC's thoughts on this topic.

Her

Age 29
Seen 3 Hours Ago
Posted 1 Week Ago
unless someone is being/has been hurt, i tend to believe that the end result is all that matters. i'm quite cynical about people's motives, as self-fulfilment is the goal more often than people themselves realise, but as long as someone is improved by another person's actions, their root intent is usually irrelevant to me.

Esper

California
Seen June 30th, 2018
Posted June 30th, 2018
It's hard to know what anyone's motivations are, including your own, so to a degree basing judgment on motivation more than the result is not so helpful.

So I guess I would say that you might not be able to have true selflessness (or at least be able to know it when/if it happens) but likewise you are not necessarily able to see/have true selfishness for the same reasons.

Aeroblast

Male
Basement
Seen February 25th, 2017
Posted February 25th, 2017
4,173 posts
9.8 Years
OP, if you are perchance interested in the term used to describe what you're arguing, it's called psychological egoism, and you can read a lot about it online if this subject interests you enough.

As for myself, sure, helping others often comes with some sort of satisfaction that you helped someone, but I think it's only a "side effect" and not the main reason.

gimmepie

Age 27
Male
Australia
Seen 1 Day Ago
Posted 1 Day Ago
I agree with the notion. In the end everything we do is self fulfilment in some way. Even seemingly selfless acts we might engage in are ultimately done because we like the way it makes us feel. Human beings are innately selfish creatures.
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Pepperton

Male
Texas
Seen February 1st, 2023
Posted February 3rd, 2021
3,397 posts
9.5 Years
oh, hell yeah it is