@lonelyowl I think this idea actually works on many levels, and you arent wrong.
The other side is the selfish side. IF you act in your own selfish interests then you will **choose** to be altruistic because helping people without thought or demand of reward usually results in a higher reward!
As contradictory as that sounds it really isnt, again, they are the same! It is amazing how two things being identical can sound remarkably similar to a contradiction :)