Altruism:
“is the principle of unselfish concern for the welfare of others,
involving behaviors that benefit others at some cost to oneself, without
expecting a reward”
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/altruism
Key aspects of altruism
- Selfless
concern: defined by a focus on the well-being of others,
prioritizing their needs over one's own personal interests or safety.
- Lack
of reward: actions motivated are performed without the
expectation of any personal gain, such as money, praise, or societal
pressure.
- Cost
to self: the act of helping others may involve a personal cost,
whether it's a small sacrifice of time or a greater sacrifice.
- Empathy
and emotions: often driven by emotions like empathy, the ability
to understand and share the feelings of others.
- Philosophical
doctrine: in philosophy, it can also refer to the ethical
doctrine that the greatest good is produced by actions that benefit
others.
I ask this question as I watch people post about there “charitable”
activities on social media to gather followers, as I watch mega church pastors fly around the country
in their private jets, as I see the catholic church (that I a part of) continue
to pay out money for past and current abuses, and as I see politicians claim
they are doing things to help me as they hurt me. I could go on, but do you see
my point?
Altruism is more than a word, it is a true belief, and like
many other things, I worry that the true meaning has disappeared.
Dr Flavius Akerele
III
The ETeam
