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Re: Debate on Altruism. [message #371782 is a reply to message #371770] Thu, 12 February 2009 10:14 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
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cheesesoda wrote on Thu, 12 February 2009 10:01

The thing is, you CAN'T have an unselfish concern for someone else and their well-being. You said it yourself, it's your motivation and desire to see them free from suffering.

Yes, joy and happiness that you gain from it is a by-product. It wouldn't make sense if it wasn't. You don't feel the same sense of accomplishment if you simply think "today, I'm going to help someone".

Basically, I don't see how you can perform an unselfish act. You'd basically have to unknowingly perform an act that benefited someone in some way. Though, you then wouldn't perform that act consciously OR subconsciously, so it doesn't really count.


My desire is to see them freed from suffering. My desire is not to see them freed from suffering because it makes me happy, I know you are debating the reasoning for the desire has to come from a selfish motivation, however my reasoning for this desire comes from compassion.

I realise you think that this feeling of compassion is the selfish act, by relieving there suffering I feel better, because I want to see the end of there suffering. However, my feeling better about the situation is not my motivation, my motivation is the desire to see them freed from suffering.

You believe the mere act of fulfilling your desire is a selfish one, even if the desire is a selfless notion?
And really, by your definition there is no such thing a selfless notion, because every thought we have is basically about ourselves in someway?
Actually, the more I think about it, the more I can see your point of view.
By this reasoning, does that mean that no Christian would get into Christian Heaven? There love for Christ and the Holy Father is not not selflessly given, but rather out of hope of favour? Or a place in heaven, some after-life reward, or just because it makes them feel good to worship. Or irrelevant of there motivation, the mere acts of Christianity themselves are enough to grant entry, God loves them anyway regardless of there reason for worship?
Infact, if no one is capable of a selfless act, does that mean that no religions God's love for its followers in unconditional? The deity itself loves you because he has a desire that needs to be fulfilled too?
Do humans only marry eachother, not out of love, but out of selfishness? They do not really want to spend there lives making the other person happy, but really only want to feel good because they are making that person happy, or perhaps even less noble desires.
If I stop someone from throwing themselves off a bridge to commit suicide, I talk them into choosing life. I do this because I don't want them to die, I don't want them to die because I value life, and because O got what I wanted, this is selfish?
You've given me allot to think about, I hope you're not right, I feel that you probably aren't, but I'm not as sure as I once was.



 
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