Is there such thing as a truly selfless act?

[FlipMode]

But we definitely do not co exist peacefully.

[KopsTheTerminator]

Flip... USE YOUR IMAGINATION. C:

[Miharuka]

Imaaaginatioon

I agree with Kops.
It's something that automatically happens.
You notice someone needs help, so you help that person, even if you don't know him.
At that moment you don't think about something else. You just do it.

[Carl]

I think that both sides have compelling arguments.

[quote="Phantomhive"]
Ummm..
I care about my friends, but I honestly don't need them to love me more than anyone else. Even not my best one. And I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks about it that way.[/quote]

And this is a good point, Phantom. ^
I didn't think about that earlier.

But I still think that most every thing we do is self-motivated on some level.

[Regulus]

[quote="Juliette"]But I still think that most every thing we do is self-motivated on some level.[/quote]

Exactly.

Suppose you're walking along, and you see a drunk homeless guy standing in the path of a train. At this point, you have to make a choice.

You can ignore him, and let him die. For the rest of your life, you will have to live with the guilt of knowing that you could have saved his life. Although a more immediate thought would be to see his death. While it would not be your death, witnessing the event isn't something anyone would want to experience.

Or, if you run fast enough, you can push him out of the way before the train hits him. You would be putting your life in danger as well, but you will have the satisfaction of knowing you did the right thing.

Yes, every act is selfish. But who cares? If people do the right thing, then it is the right thing. I don't care if Bill Gates donates his money just to get himself recognized. As long as he donates money, that's all that matters.

[FlipMode]

Yeah do not get me wrong, I am not saying that acts of good do not deserve the recognition that they lead to.

[Azdgari]

Conversely, not stopping to say hi to Mr. Jonson when I pass him will give me no guilt, nor will it affect how he feels about me. But I do it because I want to make him happy. Did I get satisfaction? I guess. Was that my goal? No. My goal was to make an old man with MS have a slightly better day.

[Carl]

I'm agreeing with Regulus here. Doing good is still doing good, so who cares what your reason is- BUT wouldn't you feel a little bit guilty for not saying Hi to Mr. Jonson if you knew that by saying "hi" you would improve his day? Especially if you usually say "hi" to him, and then one day didn't, wouldn't you feel a little bad for disappointing him?

[Azdgari]

I feel like we're not getting anywhere here. =P

[Carl]

Maybe not, but I see that as a good thing.
We're all sticking to what we believe even though someone else disagrees with us.

With this particular topic, I don't think anyone will be swayed from one side to the other, you know? So I don't think we ever will get anywhere debating it. I just think it's interesting to see what other people think, and to try to see their side, while trying to show them mine.

That way, if nothing else, we can both walk away with insight into how other people think about it. Ya feel me?
I understand why you think about it the way you do, but I respectfully disagree with your opinion. =)