Philanthropy... discuss amongst yourselves

[Gretl]

Philanthropy.

It can apply to so many different situations...

Naturally my belief that selfish motives drive everything comes into play, however I won't go into that unless someone asks.

Etymology: Late Latin philanthropia, from Greek philanthrOpia, from philanthrOpos loving people, from phil- + anthrOpos human being
Date: circa 1623
1 : goodwill to fellowmen; especially : active effort to promote human welfare

This could be anything from giving a homeless person a dollar to taking care of drunk friends, from donating millions of dollars to charity to doing someone's laundry...

It's something that's going through my mind today for some reason.

[gizmo0681]

would not have anything to do with the way gizmo got? and don't want to get again anytime soon...

[Gretl]

No, you silly boy.

Just something that's been floating around in my head for a while.

[gizmo0681]

aye... you know me just gotta check anyway... hehehe

**smooch**

[madd74]

Voluntary promotion of human welfare...

oh and yeah, I do believe that everyone is selfish and that motivates human drive. I will be happy to tackle that subject for you would it be brought up

[Gretl]

I think the topic of people being selfish...

And the self-motivation of acts...

Are two separate things. I think there are some very, very selfish people who could give a rat's ass about what effect their actions have on other people. I think that's the kind of person we strive NOT to be.

However, I think you're aware of my feeling that every action performed is motivated by thought of self, regardless of how selfless the act may seem. That doesn't make people SELFISH, though, to my way of thinking. I can still have self-motivation of my acts... and yet strive to perform acts that result in a positive effect on the rest of the world.

A topic in and of itself. *gryn*

[madd74]

Oh yeah, we have had this conversation before, about how everything is motivated through thought of self. In fact, at one point I thought I had talked to you about the point to where you started to believe it (realizing later it was a position you held before our conversation).

[sewcute]

But are there not acts that we do not because of self motivated reasons? or is just wanting to see a smile on someone's face a self-motivated reason?

[Gretl]

Yes, even that act is self-motivated. You want to see a smile on someone's face why? Because it makes you happy.

You do things for other people, maybe there is no tangible payoff... however, there may be an emotional payoff, something that isn't touchable.

[sewcute]

I do not do Madds dishes for any self-motivated reason, I was pondering WHY I do them, and WHY I enjoy doing them so much.
I do not do them because it bugs me seeing a pile of dirty dishes. because if that were the case I would have done dishes at a lot of other places many other times.
I do not do them for recognition. . .if I did that, then I would have left him a note everytime I did his dishes so he would notice.

[Gretl]

No, you do the dishes because it makes you happy to do something to help take care of him.

Simple.

You don't even have to have any recognition or anything else... you know you've done something to help him, and that makes you happy.

Hence your motivation being self-contained.

[Guest]

so there are no acts that arent self-motivated?

[sewcute]

so there are no acts that arent self-motivated?

was me sorry thought I was logged in

[Gretl]

Nope.

Let's suppose I give a thousand dollars to some random person... I won't get a tax write-off for it, I won't get recognition for it, I'm simply handing over money anonymously. The person doesn't even know where it's coming from.

Now, one could say my motivation was to help another person... however, what's the motivation for THAT?

It makes me happy to help someone.

Now, let's turn it around... say you're doing something that doesn't make you happy, such as giving up your child for adoption. You could say this was motivated by purely non-self-centered interests... you're doing this for the child... however, the reality is, you're doing it for the sake of your own happiness once again. Because you don't wish to live with the knowledge you haven't given this child every possible chance to succeed in life. Even if this particular decision (adoption) makes you miserable, in the end you're still acting out of self-motivation.

[sewcute]

ok.

I am going to think about it. . .and see what I come up with in a day or so.