Does a selfless act really exist?

[mbewane]

It bothers Denise to see Tiffany in such a state. To soothe HER uncomfortable feelings of seeing a fellow human suffer, she gives money to Tiff. It is not selfless.

And there is no such thing as a selfless act.

This is what I would tend towards to as an answer. Whatever we do, we do for a reason, even if it's to help a friend anonymously, it's still because we value that friend, and that friendship, or because we "feel the need to help", etc. Even donating to total unknowns can be traced back to the need of doing a good deed/feeling good about ourselves. I personally feel better when I help out someone. And I think we all secretly hope that if we were in the situation of the person in need, someone would help us out too.

But it's not negative, I think that the world would be a far worse place WITHOUT self-interest. It's just about balance and how you use it. Most charities or social programs are ultimately in some form of self-interest.

 

[yo moms]

Its Buddhism

then why you claiming its a retarded question? and if you want to turn this thread into a q&a about buddhism, bring it. because given the fact they are thread pertaining to samsara etc in HL which you seem shook as hell to respond to says something.

you can discuss the 8-fold path,etc.

im banned from higher learning so i cant see what goes on in there

 

[Remy Danton]

It bothers Denise to see Tiffany in such a state. To soothe HER uncomfortable feelings of seeing a fellow human suffer, she gives money to Tiff. It is not selfless.

And there is no such thing as a selfless act.

okay i probrably shouldve posted it but what would make it different from the bystander effect ironfist mention?

 

[Remy Danton]

im banned from higher learning so i cant see what goes on in there

this is false seeing that a couple of other are banned (names have been dropped) and they dap posts therefore they SEE IT. also dont duck my question, like some female if you know about buddhism, confucianism isnt a long shot from it, therefore you should know what id refer to as the 3 ways, we know you like a port-a-potty though














Full of shyt

 

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

Thoughts on The Question I pose in the thread title


Something to Ponder Hypothethically:

Denise hears through word of mouth that Tiffany is having difficulty making ends meet and providing for his family of 4. Denise knows Tiffany would not accept outright money, so late at night Denise slips some money into an envelope and puts it in Tiffany's mailbox. Nobody besides the giver will ever know who the anonymous giver of the gift was.

What motivated Denise to make this apparent act of selflessness? Was it really and truly selfless in the first place?

1. Stop asking us to do your philosophy homework

2. I say yes...especially in war zones. OBVIOUSLY some dudes are chasing medals, but for damn sure when shyt hits the fan you'll jump in to help.

 

[Remy Danton]

This is what I would tend towards to as an answer. Whatever we do, we do for a reason, even if it's to help a friend anonymously, it's still because we value that friend, and that friendship, or because we "feel the need to help", etc. Even donating to total unknowns can be traced back to the need of doing a good deed/feeling good about ourselves. I personally feel better when I help out someone. And I think we all secretly hope that if we were in the situation of the person in need, someone would help us out too.

But it's not negative, I think that the world would be a far worse place WITHOUT self-interest. It's just about balance and how you use it. Most charities or social programs are ultimately in some form of self-interest.

1. Stop asking us to do your philosophy homework

2. I say yes...especially in war zones. OBVIOUSLY some dudes are chasing medals, but for damn sure when shyt hits the fan you'll jump in to help.

Lol, not philsophy homework, more of critical thinking.

anyway what would differentiate this act for say the bystander effect ( i made a thread a couple of weeks back on this)

 

[yo moms]

this is false seeing that a couple of other are banned (names have been dropped) and they dap posts therefore they SEE IT. also dont duck my question, like some female if you know about buddhism, confucianism isnt a long shot from it, therefore you should know what id refer to as the 3 ways, we know you like a port-a-potty though














Full of shyt

i really love you know it all fakkits on the coli

you are trying to tell me im not banned from higher learning? and that i cant see it?

fukking hilarious

 

[Mad Good Dro]

i really love you know it all fakkits on the coli

you are trying to tell me im not banned from higher learning? and that i cant see it?

fukking hilarious

whats more funny is the fact you cant build on what you claim to profess

 

[yo moms]

whats more funny is the fact you cant build on what you claim to profess

cant build on what? :uFurious: by the way. negging me and shyt

 

[Handsback]

This kinda stuff is something I've been really interested in for a few years. Behaviorally speaking, yup. People do tons of truly selfless stuff all the time. Biologically speaking, there's actually a formula that proves selfless behavior isn't really that selfless.

If you've got some time and have the interest, take a listen:
http://www.radiolab.org/story/103951-the-good-show/

Some books on the subject:
The Price of Altruism
The Altruism Equation

 

[IronFist]

whats more funny is the fact you cant build on what you claim to profess

exactly for someone with so much "insight" on buddhism. acting like he can''t make a thread on it in TLR. .

 

[PUT IN WORK]

In OP's scenario, I'm not really sure I'll put Denise in the "selfless" act category. As someone mentioned earlier if there is "no prior motive" it's selfless. It's a great act of kindness by Denise but not selfless. I do believe that someway or another we've performed some selfless act without our knowledge.

 

[yo moms]

exactly for someone with so much "insight" on buddhism. acting like he can''t make a thread on it in TLR. .

like im going to make a thread on buddhism in tlr the home of the narcisstic, capitalist and bullshyt artist.

 

[IronFist]

The only way an action such as the aforementioned could truly be deemed selfless is if it went anti- the nature self. In other words, it has to be an act for another human being that completely negates the natural self preservation instinct of the ego.

An example could be a Black Ops throwing himself on a land-mine to save his compadres. Isnt necessarily a guarantee he will survive the blast and he is responding purely on an altruistic desire, the act "could" be deemed merely noble. Happenstance, not all actions of self sacrifice are naturally altruistic since they are often correlate with an congenital motive to protect the genetic line, such as a father sacrificing himself to save his child. Yet, some might consider that altruistic since it isn't execute by the ego, but an subconscious/unconscious natural inclination, and may go against what the sacrificed may consciously choose to do.

Of course, the moment a person makes the conscious choice to be inclusive , they are acting on their own freewill. That is why it is contested only unconscious innate actions that go would be considered anti- self preservation that are truly altruistic. {{{I Know why you made this thread @MichaelStrathanGap after re-reading the bystander effect thread]]]

In other words, a individual can never choose to be selfless, they would have to act without thinking (Wu-Wei In Taoism since homebody wants hint at the fact he studies buddhism.......) in a way that would jeopardize their own life for the sake of another. But of course, it depends upon you definition of selflessness.

 

[HoLLaBaCK]

I don't think so, do a selfless act an get no thank u...watch how fast you go from feeling to .