Guest guest Posted December 15, 2000 Report Share Posted December 15, 2000 > 1 : unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others > 2 : behavior by an animal that is not beneficial to or may be harmful to > itself but that benefits others of its species > > doing what is the opposite of human nature is hideous. It creates > hideousness - unhappiness, pain, confusion, fear, anger and hatred. I think it very sad that you consider altruism to be contrary to human nature (it presumably is to yours). I would say that humanity is perhaps the most altruistic species on earth. A failure to understand the altruistic nature of humanity has played a central role in my eprsonal sufferings and tendency to addiction in my life; understanding the tendency to altruism in human beings I consider central to overcoming them. P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 15, 2000 Report Share Posted December 15, 2000 I gave you the dictionary definition. Maybe my perception of the word is wrong. Maybe yours is. I see altruism as the " moral basis " of Christianity, collectivism (Socialism, Marxism, steppism), among scores of others. I don't associate altruism with brotherly love, although that is what these people claim it to be. Altruism is used in an evil way to persuade others to act in a fashion that accomodates others - instead of following their human nature and accomodating the self. Perhaps altruism by its dictionary definition is a very integral part of human life, however, nearly everything bad comes from a distortion of it - it is the basis of a great many lies. And I don't believe caring about others or being devoted to the welfare of others is an unselfish behaviour - almost always these acts are done for selfish reasons (like I don't want to go to hell). Altruism, by the perpetrater/promoters of it, is stigmatized by the idea that selfish is bad - selfless is good. Its probably more the backwards beliefs that accompany altrusim and are spoken in the name of altruism today rather than the altruism itself that I find hideous. I think what you refer to as altruism is more apt to be called love... its a different thing. I think love is an essential part of human nature, but selfless love is bullshit. coolguy on altruism > > > 1 : unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others > > 2 : behavior by an animal that is not beneficial to or may be > harmful to > > itself but that benefits others of its species > > > > doing what is the opposite of human nature is hideous. It creates > > hideousness - unhappiness, pain, confusion, fear, anger and hatred. > > I think it very sad that you consider altruism to be contrary to human > nature (it presumably is to yours). I would say that humanity is > perhaps the most altruistic species on earth. A failure to understand > the altruistic nature of humanity has played a central role in my > eprsonal sufferings and tendency to addiction in my life; > understanding the tendency to altruism in human beings I consider > central to overcoming them. > > P. > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 15, 2000 Report Share Posted December 15, 2000 Ah yes, He who would debate altruism is in for a long night! If however we agree on the centrality of Love in human nature, we are in complete agreement! P. > > > 1 : unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others > > > 2 : behavior by an animal that is not beneficial to or may be > > harmful to > > > itself but that benefits others of its species > > > > > > doing what is the opposite of human nature is hideous. It creates > > > hideousness - unhappiness, pain, confusion, fear, anger and hatred. > > > > I think it very sad that you consider altruism to be contrary to human > > nature (it presumably is to yours). I would say that humanity is > > perhaps the most altruistic species on earth. A failure to understand > > the altruistic nature of humanity has played a central role in my > > eprsonal sufferings and tendency to addiction in my life; > > understanding the tendency to altruism in human beings I consider > > central to overcoming them. > > > > P. > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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