a l t r u i s m

What is Altruism ?

According to Cambridge Dictionary, the meaning of altruism is willingness to do things that bring advantages to others, even if it results in disadvantage for yourself. Another meaning : the attitude of caring about others and doing acts that help them although you do not get anything by doing those acts.

The opposite word for altruism is egoism or self interest.

There are so many activities that you can claim as example of altruism, like do charity, helping people, feed poor animals, et cetera.

Well, I’m pretty sure that every people will feel like they are good person by helping others. They are altruistic people, who caring others and not expecting anything by doing that.

But, the question is :

Is Pure Altruism Possible?

In evolution perspective (neo-darwinian modern), human is basically selfish. Some of psychologist also think that there’s no pure altruism.

There are many people do something good because they believe that the universe will do the same to them. Each time we gave something to people, we help others, is usually because we can get advantages or benefits by doing that.

Human are basically resprocal creature.

We always hope a reward. A honoarium.

We are born selfish.

In historical perspective, people helping each other to keep their existence. According to opinion of Emil Durkheim, the long life will be more possible to happen if there are organic division of work which functionally can speed up the purpose of that group.

For example, in a little group of ancient human, there are some people stay at home to keep the children, other go to find food, etc. Because of that principal, human still exist until this day.

Altruism is a character that we bring genetically when human live in the past.

Speaking of control, Nietzsche ever said that every person has a tendention to rule over others. The poor person oftenly make other have no power with their own feeling, they will make others feel pity and sad about them. Finally, the rich people will do something good to the poor one, to take back the “control” again over their feeling, so they won’t feel pity again for the poor person.

Another reason why we do something good is because are pleasure by doing that. In biology, it’s because the activation of dopamine hormones.

So, we do things because it’s good for us. Not only because of we f*cking care about others. Isn’t it?

People help each other because they want to follow the standard of moral that universe determine by social construction. We oftenly define “selfish” into a bad character, evil, etc. But, Nietzsche said that : egoism is the very essence of a noble soul.

Who do I think I am?

Knowing that facts, made me think again. I oftenly joined social community or doing something like you know community services, I love social activities. But then, I realize things. One of my big source of happiness is to make other people happy. Yeah, one of my vision in life is bahagia-membahagiakan. So, what I’ve done are basically what I need. I love to do that. I’m not like a very kind person or generous etc. Human are not designed that way, in this perspective. This is kinda bias but try to dive deep into yourself, your soul, your mind. The purpose in every things that you do, is  that because of you need to do that to stay happy.

Let’s say about something that make us brave enough to sacrifice, l o v e. We think we give so much things to people we love, we gave them our time, take care of them, give them gifts, etc. But the question is, do you really do that because of the one you love? or is that because of you need to? Because you have expectation to be loved back, or because that’s made your soul feel better, or because you feel happy by doing that things-even the stupid one. Maybe your body just need to keep oxytocin, dopamine, serotonin and other hormones so you’re not gonna feel emptiness.

Maybe every litte things  that we do,

We do it because of ourselves.

Stay Good Anyway!

Well,  I don’t say that you’re naive because you think you are altruistic, sincere, or true-hearted, or whole-souled or any other-tons-synonyms when you do something good.

Everything depend on what you see.

I just want to share another perspective, so perhaps you will ask again to yourself : am I really as good as I think I am?

However, regardless of any other things, it’s still important to helping and care with each other. This writting shouldn’t stop you by doing those good things. We can’t deny the fact that we are a social creature who will always need each other. The purpose of this writting is to share a perspective. A perspective that maybe we doesn’t want to know.