The Theory of Altruism

Are You Here For Everyone But Yourself? 

Have you always put everyone else before yourself? Have you always dropped everything to help your friends, family, or even strangers? If so, you may just be an Altruist.

Definition: 

Last month, we talked about Solipsism, the philosophy claiming that you’re the only one who actually exists. So, this month, it only makes sense to talk about its polar opposite – Altruism. According to Philosophy Basics, Altruism is the belief that an individual must help others even if this aid interferes with his/her personal desires. Some may intuitively associate an altruist with being a people pleaser. However, the two are not synonymous. A people pleaser tends to act for their personal benefit or desires, whereas an altruist acts because they believe it is their moral duty to assist others. 

History: 

Unlike Solipsism, we have been able to trace the term “Altruism” back to a specific philosopher – Auguste Comte. Born in France, Comte was and still is best known for being the Father of Positivism. According to the Encyclopedia, his whole body of works had the underlying motive “of/to others” behind it. Meaning, all that one does in life should be completed for the benefit of others, completely disregarding oneself. 

Nowadays, we have become more lenient with our usage of “altruism” and its iterations, such as “altruist” or “altruistic.” In Comte’s time, this philosophy would only be used to refer to acts performed to better others, not the collective and not oneself. Whereas, today, we have started to more commonly use it to refer to people-pleasing actions that are carried out to help oneself.  

What Do Others Think? 

According to Philosophy Basics, a large proponent of Altruism was the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche who believed that moderate egotism was necessary. If someone lived their whole life as an altruist, they would never fulfill their own wants and desires. Rather, they would simply have to wait for someone else, another altruist, to come along and aid them. In doing so, Nietzsche believed altruists neglected themselves and hindered their own progress and success in favor of helping those around them. 

What About You? 

Now that you know Altruism’s definition and history, have you believed in this theory all along? Do you now accept an idea you hadn’t heard of before? Or do you think this way of thinking is just ludicrous, like Nietzsche? 

Either way, I hope this article sparks your interest in Altruism and other similar philosophies! 

Want to Learn More?

Stay tuned for more philosophy-related articles, or consider visiting the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, or PhilPapers. They’ve always helped me when I need extra explanations or want to know more about the world around me! Let me know if there are any philosophies you’d like me to cover next! 

Until then, take care, 

Riya Dhaliwal