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    Altruism An Evil

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    ahana68
    Altruism, or selfless concern for others, is considered a virtue by many cultures and religions. However, the document argues that altruism is actually an "evil" because it requires self-sacrifice and lowering of one's self-esteem. Altruism demands that a person sacrifice their life and interests for others without receiving any benefits themselves. While altruism preaches sacrifice for God or an afterlife, it fails to provide valid reasons why selflessness should be considered good and selfishness considered bad. As altruism is incompatible with individual freedom and rights, the document concludes that altruism which considers self-interest as evil is itself an evil.

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    Altruism An Evil

    Uploaded by

    ahana68
    32 views1 page
    Altruism, or selfless concern for others, is considered a virtue by many cultures and religions. However, the document argues that altruism is actually an "evil" because it requires self-sacrifice and lowering of one's self-esteem. Altruism demands that a person sacrifice their life and interests for others without receiving any benefits themselves. While altruism preaches sacrifice for God or an afterlife, it fails to provide valid reasons why selflessness should be considered good and selfishness considered bad. As altruism is incompatible with individual freedom and rights, the document concludes that altruism which considers self-interest as evil is itself an evil.

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    Altruism, or selfless concern for others, is considered a virtue by many cultures and religions. However, the document argues that altruism is actually an "evil" because it requires self-sacrifice and lowering of one's self-esteem. Altruism demands that a person sacrifice their life and interests for others without receiving any benefits themselves. While altruism preaches sacrifice for God or an afterlife, it fails to provide valid reasons why selflessness should be considered good and selfishness considered bad. As altruism is incompatible with individual freedom and rights, the document concludes that altruism which considers self-interest as evil is itself an evil.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    32 views1 page

    Altruism An Evil

    Uploaded by

    ahana68
    Altruism, or selfless concern for others, is considered a virtue by many cultures and religions. However, the document argues that altruism is actually an "evil" because it requires self-sacrifice and lowering of one's self-esteem. Altruism demands that a person sacrifice their life and interests for others without receiving any benefits themselves. While altruism preaches sacrifice for God or an afterlife, it fails to provide valid reasons why selflessness should be considered good and selfishness considered bad. As altruism is incompatible with individual freedom and rights, the document concludes that altruism which considers self-interest as evil is itself an evil.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    of 1

    ALTRUISM: AN EVIL

    Altruism or (saying in a more explicit way) ‘selfless concern for the welfare of
    others’, is considered a traditional virtue in many cultures, and is a core aspect of
    various religious traditions. Please don’t confuse it with ‘helping’ someone, since
    altruism is something which makes this whole concept impossible. The basic
    philosophy of altruism is self-sacrifice- that a person has no right to exist for himself
    and that self-sacrifice is the biggest virtue, merit, hallmark, quality, value etc..

    Even though it is considered more blessed to give than to receive, pragmatically


    seeing, the givers are never blessed with anything. The more they give, the more is
    demanded of them; complaints, reproaches and insults are the only response they
    get for being an altruist. It is not surprising to find a multitude of crowd following
    altruistic pursuits since from the time we are born, the statements ‘altruism is a
    virtue’ and ‘selfishness is an evil’ have been drilled into our minds and are
    considered by most people as an averment.

    The issue is that, while doing a favor, are we giving away something from us in any
    form. Will we keep giving like this to any person who might choose to approach us?
    Is the need of the other person our priority and the purpose of our life? Should man
    be regarded as a sacrificial being? A man of self-esteem will answer: “No.” Altruism
    says: “Yes.”

    If a person follows the principles of altruism, he is degrading himself by lowering his


    self-esteem—since his primary concern is not how to live his life, but how to
    sacrifice it. Also , he would be lowering the respect for others—since he considers
    mankind as a herd of beggars crying for someone’s help.

    All those who preach sacrifice, promise us the blessings of God or another life in
    heaven. But the question which comes out to be is: “Why?” Why must man live for
    the sake of others? Why must he sacrifice? Why is that the good? Is there any
    reason for it? No. Has any ever being given? Never. Why is it considered nice to
    serve the happiness of others by suppressing your own? Considering enjoyment for
    example, why is it said ethical when experienced by others, but unethical when
    experienced by a person himself? Why is it unethical for a person to desire, but
    ethical for others to do so? Why selflessness is considered a virtue and selfishness a
    vice?

    Altruism being so incompatible with the freedom and individual rights of a person
    cannot be associated to the pursuit of happiness that a person can seek. Altruism
    which considers any action taken for one’s own benefit as evil is an evil itself.

    Arjun Sharma

    [email protected]

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