Who are altruists and who are egoists?

Altruism concept

Altruism is human behavior that involves selflessly helping others, sometimes to the detriment of one’s own interests. A synonym for this word is “dedication.” An altruist refuses possible benefits and benefits in favor of another person or society as a whole. At the same time, he does not expect gratitude or reward from the person to whom he helped.

It is necessary to distinguish true altruism from imaginary. For example, a woman lives with her alcoholic husband, takes care of him and hopes that he will improve. At the same time, she completely forgets about herself, turning a blind eye to the fact that her husband is taking the last money out of the house. It would seem that such a woman’s behavior can be called altruistic. However, in fact, there are reasons why she tolerates her husband's antics. Perhaps the woman is afraid of being lonely and unwanted, and is afraid of difficulties when parting with her husband. Accordingly, there is still a benefit in her behavior.

True altruism involves heroic deeds in war, helping a drowning person provided by a person who himself can barely swim, the actions of firefighters pulling children out of fire. In these cases, it is completely impossible to trace any benefit in people’s behavior.

The Case for Altruism

Everything seems to be clear with egoism. Does altruism provide any benefits to animals?

Undoubtedly! After all, it is the basis for unification. And together it is much easier to solve any problems: get food, defend against enemies and arrange the environment for yourself. By uniting, organisms successfully cope with difficulties that a single egoist could never cope with.

The most famous preacher of evolution based on mutual assistance was Pyotr Alekseevich Kropotkin, a Russian scientist, revolutionary and one of the ideologists of anarchism.

As a member of the Russian Geographical Society, Kropotkin traveled around the world and corresponded with many famous scientists of the time. He often observed animals in their natural habitat and closely followed the latest advances in science. Gradually he developed his own views on evolution.

And these views were radically different from that vulgar understanding of Darwinism, which already at that time began to penetrate philosophy. For example, this is what Huxley wrote:

“...From the point of view of a moralist, the animal world is on the same level as the fight of gladiators. The animals are well fed and released to fight: as a result, only the strongest, the most dexterous and the most cunning survive, only to join the fight the next day. The viewer does not even need to turn his finger down and demand that the weak be killed: there is no mercy for anyone here anyway.”

To the new-found preachers of selfishness, the world seemed to be a huge arena where an endless battle was going on between hungry creatures thirsting for the blood of their fellows. Naturally, such views began to spread to humans over time.

In contrast to this, Kropotkin put forward the concept of mutual assistance as one of the main directions of evolution. He outlined his ideas in the book “Mutual Aid as a Factor of Evolution,” and later in the monumental work “Ethics” (unfortunately, not completed).

According to Kropotkin, cooperation and altruism increase the chances of survival not only of an entire species, but also of an individual organism. They become the main catalyst for development: they increase life expectancy, improve its quality and even improve the mental abilities of individuals. It is mutual assistance, according to Kropotkin, that underlies human morality.

And it was thanks to her that man once received his role as “king of nature.” Mutual assistance gave us a huge advantage over strong and aggressive individuals. Later, it contributed to the emergence of speech, intelligence, tools, knowledge, and ultimately the entire modern civilization.

Transportation of thunder stone, weight 1500 tons (St. Petersburg, XVIII century)

However, Kropotkin goes even further. He argues that mutual assistance is even more important for evolution than mutual struggle. After all, cooperation not only helps individuals survive with the least amount of energy, but also lays the preconditions for further development.

This means that the best conditions for progress are created by the complete elimination of mutual struggle and its replacement with mutual assistance and mutual support. According to Kropotkin, the main message of nature is this:

“Avoid competition! It is always harmful to the species, and you have many ways to avoid it! Unite - practice mutual assistance!”

Kropotkin supports his arguments with many examples both from the life of animals and from the history of human civilization.

Reasons for altruistic behavior

There are several theories that explain human altruistic behavior. First of all, these include the social responsibility of people and their need to give. According to this, a person strives to help his neighbor if he sees that he needs him and depends on his actions.

Altruistic behavior can be explained by a reluctance to observe the suffering of others. Moreover, if they stop, the negative emotions of the person who provided help disappear, or they are replaced by positive ones. From the point of view of this theory, altruism and egoism are closely intertwined.

Another reason for selflessness may be a person’s feeling of guilt. By performing a noble deed, he strives to atone for his sins.

Meaning of the word altruist

The meaning of the word altruist is completely opposite to the word egoist.
That is, this is a person who cares about others, does things and actions that benefit society, even to the detriment of himself. This concept was introduced by the French sociologist Auguste Comte. In his opinion, the main principle of altruism is to live for others. Of course, I don’t really like the word damage, since unselfishness still means acting not from inferiority, but most likely from abundance. This abundance does not necessarily manifest itself in some kind of material wealth of a person, but rather it is an abundance of the soul and heart. In the article on compassion, I already touched on this topic a little. There is a similar concept of philotropy (from the Greek love of humanity). Philanthropists are people who do charity. The simplest form of philanthropy is to give alms to those in need.

The characteristic qualities of an altruistic personality are kindness, responsiveness, empathy, activity, and compassion. For people prone to altruism, the heart chakra works well. Externally, they can be recognized by their eyes, which emit a warm radiance. As a rule, altruistic individuals are optimists. Instead of wasting time being depressed and complaining about the world, they simply make it a better place.

Moral altruism

Moral altruism is helping other people, which is based on a person’s conscience and moral principles. In this case, the individual acts based on his internal beliefs and concepts about how to act correctly in a given situation. Living according to conscience, a person becomes honest with himself and does not experience feelings of guilt or mental anguish.

One form of moral altruism is normative. It is expressed in a person’s struggle for justice, the desire to punish the guilty and defend the truth. For example, a judge gives a harsh sentence to a criminal, despite the very large sum offered to him as a bribe.

Morality or altruism?

Some of our actions when interacting with other people are morally motivated, but not altruistic.

Suppose A borrows a book from B and promises to return it within a week. When A. returns the book on time, his motive can be described as moral: he made a promise and he undertakes to fulfill it. His motive is simply to keep his word.

This is not an example of altruism. But if A gives B a book as a gift, thinking that B will like it and be useful to him, A acts out of a desire to benefit B. In this case, his motive is altruistic.

Likewise, suppose a mother refrains from giving advice to her adult son on a particular matter because she believes it is none of her business—that would be undue interference in his personal affairs.

At the same time, she may also think that he would benefit from her advice; she respects his independence, but is afraid that he will make the wrong decision. Her abstinence from advice is morally motivated , but it cannot be called an act of altruism.

As these examples show, the concept of altruism does not apply to every morally motivated act, but only to that which is done out of concern for the good of others (their well-being).

Altruistic actions can be described as charitable, benevolent, or kind because these words also convey the sense of acting for the benefit of others rather than simply being fair to others.

Often the “targets” of altruistic behavior are chosen by people based on personal attachments and relationships.

For example, if A was unusually kind to B when B was a child, and later B is able to help A out of a difficult situation, the help B gives A is altruistically motivated, although their shared past goes some way to explaining why B decided to help A, and not a simple stranger in need.

The assumption here is that B does not promote A's well-being as a mere means to his (B's) own well-being. Otherwise, B would perform the action only for the sake of B.

Another suggestion is that B is motivated not simply by a sense of obligation to help A; rather, he not only feels indebted to A, but also genuinely cares about him.

The people we treat altruistically are often those to whom we feel emotional (sentimental) attachment or gratitude.

But this is not the only option. Some altruistic actions are motivated simply by recognition of the great need of those who benefit from them. Both the benefactor and the beneficiary may be complete strangers to each other.

Just because an action is altruistically motivated does not mean it is justified or praiseworthy. A may mistakenly think that he improves B's welfare; B may also mistakenly think that he is benefiting from A's efforts.

One might say that in such cases there is something admirable in A's motive, but it is possible that he should not have done so.

Rational altruism

Rational altruism is a person’s attempt to find the right balance between his interests and the needs and needs of others. It presupposes a person’s meaningful performance of selfless actions and their preliminary consideration.

The rational theory of altruism allows an individual to protect himself from those who would take advantage of his honesty and kindness. That is why it is based on reciprocity of efforts. Without this, the relationship can become exploitative. A person needs to understand where and when to offer his help, and try not to act to the detriment of himself and his interests.

Types of altruism in psychology

Altruism is the willingness, regardless of one’s personal interests, to selflessly act in the interests of others. A traditional altruist will not regret good deeds done and will not expect gratitude as payment for his actions.

Is everything so clear with altruists and their motives, from a psychological point of view? Altruism is not a typical action in human behavior. There is an opinion among psychologists that there is a small amount of selfishness in the manifestation of altruism.

Different historical periods, situations and stages of development of society have formed several types of altruism as social and emotional human behavior.

Altruism from sympathy and sympathy

This type of altruism is called “sympathetic.” It is common for a person to feel empathy, to mentally put oneself in the place of another person and empathize with him. Compassionate altruism is built on shared experiences and formed good attitudes towards other members of society.

It is necessary to distinguish between the concepts of “altruist” and “philanthropist”. If an altruist acts within the framework of relationships with familiar people (relatives, friends, neighbors, people of his society) and his goals are specific, then a philanthropist behaves similarly to an altruist, but with strangers, because he sincerely loves every person and all of humanity. One illustration of philanthropy is the giving of alms as an action to eradicate the misfortune of another person.

Moral altruism

The concept of moral or moral altruism can be defined by studying the works of the father of German philosophy, Immanuel Kant. According to Kant's teachings, the psychology of moral motivation for human actions is based on conscience. People often say that they did the right thing “out of the call of their conscience.” Many people admit that performing altruistic actions makes them feel happy. Remorse saves many individuals from committing unseemly acts. Kant called conscience an important indicator of humanity and one of the moral qualities that help a person follow duty, including in relation to himself.

Moral altruism requires that a person will act in accordance with his own conscience, and conscience is a law that lives within us. Moral altruism is considered the basis of the jury's verdict; each member of the panel makes his own opinion based on his own moral standard.

Parochial altruism

Parochial altruism is aimed exclusively at those whom a person defines as “his own.” Those who fall into the category of “strangers” will face aggression and hostility.

Parochial altruism has deep roots and is associated with human development. Scientists hypothesize that human altruism emerged from parochialism.

Our distant ancestors directed altruistic actions strictly towards those whom they considered “their own”, while at the same time they were hostile to “strangers”. Scientists have found that such a parallel, contrasting relationship was physically necessary for the continuation of the race of each tribe. Parochial altruism in this type of survival cannot be assessed as “good” or “bad.”

Psychologists do not see a contradiction in parochialism. Often people who show love, support and good attitude towards members of their inner circle experience completely opposite feelings towards those who fall into the category of “outsiders”. A striking example of the manifestation of parochial altruism is the model of a religious community.

A person who is prone to this type of altruism will be in demand during conflicts and wars; his heroism and patriotism form hatred of enemies and devotion to his brothers in arms.

Rational altruism

Rational altruism is when altruistic actions are balanced between a person's personal interests and the interests of other people. An altruist, as a giving party, has the right to expect that he will receive for his good deeds exactly as much as he gave. Rational altruism is sometimes called rational egoism.

Reciprocal altruism

Reciprocal or reciprocal altruism is a subset of rational altruism. This subtype is characterized by the fact that any altruistic action is oriented towards compensation or an adequate response from the other side. A person can perform good deeds in the name of another meaningfully and only if he expects an absolutely equivalent reaction from his opponent. This “reciprocity” preserves equality and prevents exploitation by one of the parties to the relationship.

Effective altruism

Effective altruism differs from classical altruism. Effective altruists engage in “effective” philanthropy and use the most effective and beneficial ways and means to improve the world. The basis of effective altruism lies in the desire of a purposeful person to improve people's lives from every good deed or donation performed by this person. An example of effective altruism is the volunteer movement or charitable organizations, where there is an approved prioritization of goals for help and support. For example, assistance to a group of people may become a priority because it is more valuable than targeted assistance to a specific individual.

The idea of effective altruism is widespread throughout the world. On special websites, research companies post for those interested a list of areas where it is most effective to donate money, where it will bring the most benefit. There are services that help people who have the inclinations of an effective altruist to choose the right path in life and profession. And this, in turn, makes it possible to have a positive impact on the world.

Selfish altruism

Altruism, from the point of view of moral principles, is usually contrasted with selfishness. An egoist (from the Latin “ego” - I) lives for himself, an altruist (from the Latin “alter” - another) lives and acts for others. An egoist is ready to infringe on another for his own sake; an altruist gives more to people, often to his own detriment.

However, some psychologists evaluate altruism as the highest form of egoism, stating that egoistic altruism is based on the instinct of self-preservation and is an innate quality.

Ancient philosophies say that an action is not purely virtuous if there is even a modicum of selfishness or conscious self-interest in it. The Dalai Lama teaches that one should not seek happiness only for oneself; a smart egoist cares about the well-being of others. Egoistic altruism is characterized by the expectation of “reward” in the form of material values or moral pleasure from the assistance provided.

American philosopher and biologist Michael Ghiselin writes this: “Knock an altruist and you will find a hypocrite.” It is not always possible to determine other people’s motives for altruistic actions; they don’t talk about it. Perhaps the person is waiting for a return favor, counting on benefits or gaining popularity.

“A person who loves others and does not love himself is incapable of love at all.” The German philosopher and psychoanalyst Erich Fromm, who wrote these lines, considered man’s indifference to himself to be the main problem of the modern world.

Family psychologists often have an altruistic woman as their client. Such a woman refuses manifestations of selfishness, and devotes all her strength and time to her home, family, children, and husband. Instead of self-development, altruistic love arises as self-sacrifice. And the relatives very quickly get used to this order and begin to treat their mother and wife accordingly, demanding that she give more and more. But a woman’s personal needs and desires do not go away, they accumulate and, it is quite possible that over time, following this woman’s unrequited demands for care and understanding, she will develop unhealthy selfishness. And no one expected this from her, and no one in the family is ready for this. Then conflict happens.

Altruism from sympathy and empathy

Altruistic actions are very often performed by a person who is driven by certain experiences and feelings. It could be mercy, compassion or empathy. As a rule, the goodwill and dedication of altruists extends only to close people - relatives, friends, loved ones. If altruism goes beyond such relationships, it is called “philanthropy.” Most often it manifests itself in charity and helping those in need.

What is altruism

❗️Altruism is a set of moral standards and principles of a person, according to which the interests of other people are placed above their own. The philosopher Socrates also wrote that morality is based on the principle of not taking, but giving. Altruism in a broad sense implies not only mercy and compassion, but also a willingness to sacrifice oneself for the benefit of other people. In Ozhegov’s Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language, altruism is characterized as the readiness to act selflessly for the benefit of others, without taking into account one’s own interests.

The concept of altruism on Wikipedia is partially described as selflessness for the common good and the willingness to sacrifice one's own benefits. Altruism means sincere dedication and selfless service to people and society.

It is believed that one of the indicators of the health and maturity of a society is a high percentage of the manifestation of altruistic actions of citizens. Life is given for good deeds - says the Russian proverb.

Selfishness concept

The concept opposite to altruism is egoism. It represents the behavior of an individual aimed solely at satisfying his interests and needs, obtaining benefits and benefits for himself. The consequences that such actions can lead to for other people are not taken into account by the egoist.

There is an opinion that every person is genetically predisposed to selfishness. This is explained by the long struggle for survival and natural selection in conditions in which people had to exist for a long time. Some scientists believe that all human actions are driven by selfishness. Even the best intentions and selfless actions actually have a hidden purpose to satisfy the needs of the person himself, and not those of others.

There are rational and irrational egoism. In the first case, a person evaluates and weighs the consequences of his actions. As a result, he acts as he thinks is right and appropriate. Irrational egoism involves rash and impulsive actions that can lead to unpleasant consequences for others.

Altruism: pros and cons

The evolution of the planet will be impossible without altruism, but, unfortunately, this trait can also have negative characteristics.

First, let's look at the positive aspects for the altruist himself and the world around him

There is more safety and kindness in the world.
An altruist lives in accordance with his conscience.
Helping others fills a person with positive emotions.
People's consciousness changes for the better when they witness altruistic actions.
Evolution of society.

However, in some cases there are also shadow sides of self-sacrifice, let’s consider them

An altruist gets used to devaluing his own interests and sometimes infringes on himself and his family in order to help people who do not really need it. Self-sacrifice does more harm than good.
The altruist forgets about his own responsibilities, chasing after things in which his participation can help.
Being carried away by altruism, a person can take an action that in reality is beyond his power, thereby aggravating the situation or even losing his life.

Altruism and egoism

It would seem that such opposite concepts cannot be combined in one person and have nothing in common. Traditionally, we are accustomed to considering selfishness as a negative personality trait. People who possess it cause condemnation and censure from society. Altruism, on the contrary, implies a positive assessment. People have always revered selflessness and heroic deeds.

In fact, one cannot separate such concepts as altruism and egoism. 4th grade at school is the time to learn about the meaning of these words and the fact that they are perfectly combined in one person and complement each other. Both altruism and rational egoism are based on morality and morality. The value of human life is immeasurably great, both that of others and your own. Therefore, if an individual strives for personal gain and the fulfillment of his needs, this cannot be considered evil, of course, provided that other people do not suffer from this.

We must also remember that a person can change depending on what life lesson he receives. Selfishness and altruism can alternate in people. For example, if a person who has committed a noble deed receives condemnation instead of gratitude, or if his physical and moral capabilities to perform good deeds have dried up, then he can turn into an egoist. Caring for one's own person can also be replaced by altruism if suitable conditions are created for this.

The problem in modern society is the condemnation of both selfless behavior and selfishness. In the first case, people are often considered abnormal or do not believe them and look for hidden benefits in their actions. Selfishness is associated with greed and a disregard for others.

Degrees of altruism

Consider a person who is always guided by the principle: “I will never do anything unless it benefits me.” Such a person refuses to sacrifice his well-being even in the slightest degree.

But, given the terminological remarks just made, he could also have altruistic motives for some of his actions, or even for many or all of the actions that he performs.

In any given case, he might have mixed motives: he always tries to do what is good for himself, but this also allows him to be motivated by the feeling that it is also good for others.

It would be inaccurate to say that such a person is an altruist. Many would accuse him of not being altruistic enough.

It is common sense that a person should be willing to compromise with other people—to interact with them in ways that require, in certain situations, accepting what is less beneficial to oneself, or rejecting a more advantageous alternative. So that the distribution of benefits is as fair as possible.

These reflections lead to a peculiar result: every action taken by such a person can be altruistically motivated. And yet we would be reluctant or not sincere enough to call him an altruist.

The best way to deal with some of the controversy is to distinguish between two uses of the word altruism:

An action is altruistic in the strong sense if it is performed despite the perception that it entails some harm to itself.
An action is altruistic in the weak sense if it is motivated, at least in part, by the fact that it benefits someone else, or the fact that it will help prevent harm to someone else.

Pros and cons of altruism

The positive aspects of selflessness are obvious to every person. Altruism is, first of all, helping people. If you managed to save your neighbor or provide him with support at the right time, this certainly deserves praise and approval. By performing selfless acts, helping others, each person makes our world a little kinder and more humane.

Are there any downsides to altruism? Within reasonable limits they are absent. However, if a person completely forgets about himself and his interests, this can cause significant harm to himself. Very often those around them begin to take advantage of a person’s kindness and kindness, shift their responsibilities to him, constantly ask him to borrow money and do not give it back. They know that they will never be refused and will always be helped, even if it is not so necessary. As a result, the altruist may be left with nothing, without receiving any gratitude for his good deeds.

Egoist and altruist: whose side is the truth on?

Selfishness, selfishness and witch hunts

Selfishness is hailed as one of the least lovable qualities in a person. Parents often blame their children for selfishness, and lovers often blame each other. Selfishness causes a storm of negative emotions. The egoist is constantly under attack from society. What kind of quality is this? And why does it irritate others so much? In most dictionaries, an egoist is defined as a selfish person. And what's wrong with that? Well, a person loves himself. What do you care about this? He doesn't bother you in any way. Or does it still interfere? What exactly? Ah, he has the audacity to look out for his own interests more than yours? Yes, indeed, this is very, very bad... Let him solve your problems better. Otherwise, who will take care of them? It's natural to like yourself. The egoist is pleased with himself, positive, and does not harm anyone. Why does selfishness always provoke righteous anger? Psychologists say that what irritates a person most is what he cannot afford. That is, the reason for hating other people's egoism lies in your own self-esteem. You don’t love yourself, which means it’s forbidden for others to do the same! This is the logic. You can also hate an egoist because of fear. Fear of uncertainty and the unknown. In human society, standard thinking is encouraged. Everyone should think the same and act as is customary. One for all and all for one! And selfishness brings confusion to the orderly ranks of like-minded people. The instinct of self-preservation forces people to fiercely fight any dissent. Let's summarize the first results. If you have an irresistible desire to throw at someone in the face: “You are an egoist!”, then most likely:

you have nothing to do;
you don’t want to solve your problems on your own;
you have low self-esteem;
you are very scared.

What does a witch hunt have to do with it? And despite the fact that attacks on egoists are as savage as the medieval Inquisition. Egoism is also a kind of heresy. The egoist himself proclaims himself a deity in his small universe. And he worships himself. As long as he does not demand mass worship and widespread recognition, let him live. How is egoism useful? If you are an egoist, then: - to lift your spirits, you just need to look in the mirror; — in any company you will not go unnoticed; - your affairs are always in order, you follow them carefully; - socially useful activities are not imposed on you, you are an egoist; — those around you don’t bother you with their concerns, but listen carefully to yours; - you are always in the black, and the winners are not judged. In addition, an egoist helps those around him to be in good shape, stimulates their mental activity, and provides them with new impressions. It’s always nice to discuss someone else’s selfishness; it really brings both relatives and employees together. Compared to a very selfish person, everyone else seems just darling. Too obvious egoism can also cause some discomfort: - most often the egoist is forced to enjoy his perfection alone; - anyone who wants to considers himself has the right to inform the egoist about his delusions; - absolutely without malicious intent, an egoist can undeservedly offend some good person; - a bad example is usually contagious; - a negative assessment of the personal qualities of an egoist can harm the interests of the business in which he is engaged; - sometimes an egoist can quite seriously believe in his exclusivity. Altruist in white robes
Altruism is generally considered a laudable alternative to selfishness. Let's look at the dictionary again: “An altruist is a selfless person who unselfishly cares about the welfare of others.” What is there to admire here? The individual does not care about himself, his own life is a complete mess, and he rushes to help others... In the animal world, not a single individual of any biological species demonstrates such behavior. Where did this model of interaction come from in human society? Is this a sign of a higher level of development? Or... In some cases, selfless actions are not so selfless. There is no obvious material benefit, but morally the altruist feels like a hero. He has something to respect himself for. Even if the altruism went unnoticed, the savior will praise himself. Awareness of one's virtue is also a benefit. For many it becomes a drug. Having performed a good deed, the altruist mentally pats himself on the head and rushes to look for a new drowning person. Someone is trying to achieve recognition in this way. Someone is atoning for sins. And someone seeks to escape responsibility for their own life. Why grow above yourself, set goals and achieve results? You can find someone who is weaker and more unhappy. Against his background, an altruist always looks better and feels more confident. If you feel a constant need to save and guide others, it is possible:

you have no interests of your own;
you don't know your abilities;
you feel guilty;
you need public recognition;
you assert yourself at the expense of others.

You can become an altruist on your own initiative. Let's say that at some point a person realized the worthlessness of his existence, saw a higher purpose and decided to change his life. This is his right, the free choice of a free person. A completely different option is when altruism is instilled as an ideology, when it is demanded from everyone and everyone, when it is made a duty. Experience shows that in such cases individualism sooner or later wins. Your own shirt is still closer. Altruism can be cultivated if appropriate attitudes are instilled in the child from childhood. The child's psyche is very malleable. The earlier directive influence begins, the stronger the result will be. Authoritarian parents can make a child believe that caring for loved ones is the only meaning of his life. What's bad about it? Only that life is full of other equally interesting meanings. Having fulfilled his duty, the child will be calm. His conscience will be crystal clear. But will he be happy? Will he be able to experience the fullness of self-realization? Perhaps selfless devotion to his parents will not allow him to create his own family. Or relationships in it will be built according to the same principles of sacrifice and submission. How is altruism useful? — An altruist will always find something to occupy himself with - there are many needy and disadvantaged people. — They love altruists. They are always welcome in any team. — Altruism is a guarantee in case of unforeseen circumstances. Finding yourself in a difficult situation, anyone can count on an altruist somewhere nearby ready to help. — Altruism is convenient. Concern for the common good can mask your own interests or justify mistakes. — Altruists make us believe in good things and give us hope. “An altruist is not afraid of any economic crises, because he is used to being content with little and denying himself everything. The history of mankind knows many examples of truly selfless behavior. Most of them are worthy of emulation. Missionaries, devotees, volunteers and activists develop culture, protect their homeland, save people and animals, preserve the environment, fight for the truth, defend rights, and restore justice. And yet, let me add a fly in the ointment to this barrel of honey. Altruism can have very harmful consequences: - Altruism corrupts people, provokes irresponsible behavior, strengthens the belief that a wizard will suddenly fly in and ruin everything. “Sometimes an altruist goes too far or, guided by his fantasies, does not do exactly what is needed. Particularly active helpers often interfere with people's lives. — A person who has been benefited may feel obligated. For some people, the weight of gratitude is unbearable. But any debts have to be repaid sooner or later. - Altruism can be a cover. Good goals often justify the use of less than adequate means. — An altruist can fall into the illusion of his own infallibility, imagine himself as a messiah and begin to instruct the suffering right and left. — There are often people who are ready to torment their benefactor with endless nagging and eternal discontent. Suffering is their way of life. No altruism will help here. And even the most persistent altruist himself will not be glad that he got involved. I hope you are convinced that not everything is so rosy under the white covers of altruism. However, altruism most harms the altruist himself. Whereas an egoist invariably acts as a negative hero in the eyes of others. If you are completely satisfied with your life, relax and have fun. If sidelong glances and whispers behind your back provoke endless remorse, then it’s time to act. What to do with selfishness?
I don’t know what a person expects when he calls another selfish. It is highly unlikely that your partner will joyfully exclaim in response to the accusation: “Oh! And it's true! How did this happen to me? I will never do that again!” Such an enlightened subject has not yet been born. This behavior contradicts the instinct of self-preservation. Most likely, the interlocutor will begin to defend himself, or even go on the attack. And then the fighter for truth himself will learn a lot of interesting things about himself. Selfishness is an innate and completely natural quality. Every sane person, first of all, takes care of himself. About your safety, about meeting your needs, about your interests, about your resources, about your advancement, about the benefits from your investments. This is fine. It’s just that some people understand what they want and are not shy about talking about it. They also realize that in this particular situation their resources may not be enough for everyone, and then they consciously neglect the interests of others. At the same time, various mumblers call them selfish. Personally, I am for reasonable selfishness. It is much better to think about yourself than to live “without a head.” Some people can't even take care of themselves. Reasonable egoism has an undoubted advantage over frivolity and recklessness. And only in our Russian mentality is impulsive behavior valued as a manifestation of sincerity. And any reasonable arguments instantly turn into self-interest. Although there is discord between an egoist and an egoist. There are times when the endless “I”, “me”, “mine”, “for me” make your ears fade. This is the so-called double egoism. Final and merciless. Such an egoist does not even suspect that from a different angle the world looks different. He doesn’t listen to anyone except himself; he puts only his own desires at the forefront. This is how the immature childish “Ego” manifests itself. 5 signs that you are a huge egoist: 1. The pronoun “I” predominates in your speech. 2. You have difficulty remembering what others said and did, but you remember your own thoughts, feelings and words very well. 3. You often feel like you do the most and are the most tired. 4. You seriously believe that your point of view is the only correct one. 5. Most of your goals are achieved through the efforts of other people. Have you found all 5 signs? Don't be alarmed. That's not fatal. There is no reason to make a sharp leap into the altruist camp. Step 1. First, learn to observe yourself from the outside. Gradually expand the focus of your attention from yourself to the people around you. Start to be interested in their opinion, clarify their desires. STEP 2. Learn to think like a reasonable egoist. Evaluate the appropriateness of your actions. Prioritize your desires where there is a real need for it. STEP 3. Learn to take care of yourself with maximum benefit for others. This is not altruism. This is a creative position. And we sincerely wish all interested parties to leave the egoists alone. Selfishness is not the most attractive, but it is certainly not the worst human quality.