To what extent is altruism an expectation?
If any, what is the point of altruism?
Do you practice interspecies altruism?

#life #society

@binsrc altruism is an illusion, it doesnt exist. Altruism is just what wer call selfishness done expertly.

@freemo at some level it must exist, civilization prides itself (and manipulates others based) on its altruistic aspects. It seems very important to peoples self-image. There are altruistic acts, taking down a gunman, running in front of a car to save an unknown child... acts that occur spontaneously.

@binsrc none of those acts are altruistic. You do it for many reasons such as to avoid guild, the happiness and pleasure from doing the good deed, and the praise and honor you receive from the community in doing so.

Altruism is simply an illusion, something we tell ourselves because it feels good.

@freemo Comte employed the term to denote the benevolent instincts and emotions in general, or action prompted by them: the opposite of egoism.

Is ego also an illusion?

@binsrc depends, your sense of self-importance may be an illusion, but the fact that you expiernce it is very real all the same.

@freemo yes I think altruism is a form of selfishness but can a persons desire for equality for other {race/gender/subdivision} be altruistic?

@binsrc Nothing can be altruistic, you wouldn't want it if it was :)

The problem is that people assume selfishness means bad. In fact selfishness can be bad or good and usually when we see positive selfishness we just call it altruism even though its not. Its more about our bias with words than anything.

@freemo if an individual spontaneously acts by putting themself in deaths way to save other individuals very immediately. (And dies)

There is no time for ego. There was an innate response at play. What is that? It’s not ego.