Altruism and selfishness - two terms that often seem like night and day. Altruism sounds like selfless charity and unselfish action. Egoism is reminiscent of "every man for himself" and self-interest. But let's take a closer look!
In this article, we will take a closer look at altruism and egoism and try to understand how the mechanisms behind the concepts unfold in our society and in our own behavior. If you want to see the idea of altruism and selfishness with new eyes, you've come to the right place. Let's go!
Altruism and selfishness - what's behind it?
The following scenario: You're standing at the coffee machine in the office and the last cup of coffee is almost empty. Your colleague, who has already had a cup, pours you the rest without asking. This is altruism in its simplest form - acting unselfishly for the benefit of others. But is this selfless gesture really just pure charity?
The roots of this concept go back much further. Even in ancient times, philosophers such as Socrates reflected on the phenomenon of philanthropy and gave the behavior a name: Philanthropos - today's philanthropist. Philanthropists are humanitarians who act altruistically without suffering any loss of their own. They represent the spiritual antipode of misanthropy - the "haters of mankind".
Altruism goes one step further. An altruist consciously accepts that their actions may be associated with personal loss or disadvantage. But why do people act altruistically in the first place? This is a fascinating question to which there is no simple answer, as the motives for this are diverse and intertwined. But that is precisely what makes it interesting: can pure altruism exist at all or doesn't personal benefit always play a role? We will try to get closer to the answer to this question later on.
On the other side of the spectrum, we have egoism. This concept, which became particularly popular in the economic theory of the last century, states that people strive to maximize their own benefit and profit, often at the expense of others. Adam Smith, one of the founders of modern economics, argued that each individual's selfish pursuit of personal gain ultimately even contributes to the well-being of society. However, this selfish view of man has led to debate, especially in light of social developments in the 21st century. The idea that greed and selfishness are positive forces is now being critically questioned, but still enjoys great popularity today, especially in incel movements and representatives of exaggerated masculinity.
The many faces of altruism
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Altruism is not always as clearly defined as it might appear at first glance. When we help others, we often do so for a diverse mix of motives. For example, many Germans give money to aid organizations or support charitable projects through fundraising, especially during the Advent season. They want to do their bit to help - the organizations, but also themselves. Let's take a closer look at some of their motives:
- Justice: some people act altruistically to fight injustice. They stand up for others who have been treated unfairly or are in need. In this case, their actions are characterized by a deep sense of fairness and equality.
- Morality: The basic social attitude is to help one another. This moral imperative can motivate people to act altruistically, even if there are no personal benefits. They act because it is the "right" thing to do
- Religion: In many faiths, helping others is a central part of the teaching. Charity and mercy are taught as ethical principles of behavior and motivate believers to act altruistically.
- Self-realization: Some people volunteer and help others because it gives them a sense of fulfillment and self-realization. It makes them happy to do something good and contribute to society
- Benevolence: A simple act of kindness can sometimes stem from pure benevolence. We help others because we like them and wish them well.
- Compassion: Compassion for the suffering of others can move us to help them. When we sense another person's suffering, we want to do something to help and alleviate their suffering.
- Affection: In close relationships, such as family or friendships, altruistic action is often motivated by affection. We help the people we love without giving it much thought.
- Gratitude: Sometimes we act altruistically to thank someone who has previously helped us. It is a kind of 'repayment' for support received.
Selfishness in 'homo oeconomicus'
The term "homo oeconomicus" may sound complicated at first glance, but it basically describes selfish behavior in an economic context. This concept assumes that when making economic decisions, people primarily strive to maximize their own benefit and profit, often at the expense of others.
In the world of"homo oeconomicus" , the focus is on one's own advantage. This view of man has played an important role in the economic theory of the last century. As already mentioned, a famous representative of this way of thinking was Adam Smith, one of the founders of modern economics. Smith argued that the selfish pursuit of personal gain by each individual ultimately contributes to the well-being of society. If everyone pursues their own interests, this supposedly leads to an efficient and prosperous society.
Examples of selfish behavior in society are widespread. They range from companies ignoring environmental regulations to save costs to individuals cheating to gain personal benefits. In an economic context, selfishness can lead to an unequal distribution of resources and social injustice.
An example from the field of fundraising shows how selfish behavior can occur in society. Let's assume that a company decides to donate part of its profits to charity. At first glance, this may seem altruistic, as the company is providing money for those in need, among other things. But if you take a closer look, the actual motive is often a business calculation, for example to improve the company's image and attract potential new customers. In this case, the company's selfish interest in maximizing profits is combined with an altruistic act.
Altruism & egoism in everyday life
In everyday life, we constantly encounter situations in which altruism and egoism interact with each other. This interplay can often be subtle and complex. Some examples would be:
- Volunteering and social engagement: many people volunteer for charitable organizations or donate their time and resources to help others. This can be done for purely altruistic motives, but it can also bring personal benefits such as social recognition or a sense of self-efficacy.
- Reciprocal altruism: This term describes situations in which people help others in order to gain a personal benefit. Someone may care for a sick friend and probably does so out of compassion. However, the underlying motive is that the friend is needed at full strength because their own move is due in a week's time and they were counting on their friend to help.
- Cooperation in the working world: In professional environments, people often have to work together to achieve common goals. The next event is coming up and you urgently need your colleague's network to get better conditions at the event location because you've told your boss that you'll deliver despite budget cuts. In this scenario, both selfish (personal success, career advancement) and altruistic (teamwork, supporting colleagues) behavior will inevitably occur.
- Consumer decisions: Our purchasing decisions can also be influenced by altruism and egoism. A customer may choose to buy products from companies that support social or environmental initiatives in order to feel particularly responsible.
- Family and relationship life: Altruism can play an important role in personal relationships. Parents often sacrifice a lot of time and energy for their children without any immediate personal benefit. In romantic relationships, mutual support can come from altruistic love or from selfish motives to maintain the relationship.
Fundraising or donations - altruistic or selfish?
Why do we actually donate and what psychological factors are behind it? Excellent question, which we will look at here through the lens of altruism slash egoism.
Let's say you see an ad for a fundraiser that helps children in need. You decide to donate an amount. Is that altruism? Or are you perhaps motivated by selfish motives? Let's take a closer look at two possible factors influencing your decision.
Earmarked donations
With earmarked donations, you make a conscious decision to donate money to a specific cause that is close to your heart. This could be education, health, environmental protection or another good cause. Why do we do this? On the one hand, we want to make a direct contribution to a cause that is important to us personally. We want to effect change and see where our money goes. It's an altruistic act that stems from a desire to help others and make the world a better place.
On the other hand, there are also selfish elements to earmarked donations. By donating to a specific cause, you can maintain a sense of control over your donation and how it is used. You can make sure that your money is actually going where you want it to go and that it is being used effectively. This can be a reassuring feeling and give you personal satisfaction.
The role of self-interest in giving
The idea that self-interest plays a role in giving may seem strange at first glance. But when we take a closer look, we realize that it makes perfect sense. Humans are complex beings and our actions are often driven by different motives.
When donating, self-interest can come in the form of personal happiness and well-being. When you donate money to charity, you may experience a warm, fulfilling feeling. Knowing that you have done something good can boost your self-esteem and give you a sense of belonging to a social community working for positive change.
In a world that is often characterized by selfish behavior, donating and fundraising shows that altruism and self-interest can be intertwined. And that is by no means negative. It shows that we as human beings are capable of doing good for different reasons and making our world a little bit better.
The art of balance!
Altruism and egoism are therefore often nuanced and sometimes even closely interwoven concepts. We have seen that altruism comes in different forms, from moral considerations to the pure joy of helping others. And selfishness can also serve as a positive driving force in certain contexts, such as at work or in business in general.
The complexity of altruism and the possibility of selfish motives challenge us to critically reflect on our own actions on a regular basis. This may be an unrealistic, perhaps even annoying demand in an already stressful everyday life. However, you can also see it as a challenge to stop being a mere NPC in your story and think more consciously about your motivations and - ideally - find a balance between the well-being of others and your own well-being.
The art of balance is to accept the gray areas and make conscious choices. Be curious, be thoughtful and, above all, be yourself. In life, altruism and selfishness are not enemies, but guides to a balanced and fulfilling existence. Think about why you act the way you do and find the balance between caring for others and what is important to you.
