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Can we truly do something for another?
Aside from Deterministic concepts etc When we actually make a choice can we truly do anything for someone else? First of all when I say someone else I don't mean can we do something that results in benefiting someone else but can we do something for nothing, for no reward? When we give to a charity we are doing it for ourselves, simply because we experience good feelings for doing it, we are getting something worth more than what we give. Another example is when we help the old lady across the street, is it not done purely to quench our guilt that conjures up inside of us? Is it possible for a human to do anything that it thinks will result in a equal or greater reward? Many people follow the rule "If you do good things you go to heaven" and people follow this for themselves (They get to go to heaven!) So this really contradicts what christian religion preaches does it not? This might seem like a petty truth but think of what the truth of this means. It questions such acts as Jesus dieing for 'us' and not for himself (If it did indeed happen at all), the millions upon millions of volunteers that help others, all the saints, philanthropists, people that have dedicated their lives to others (as they say) and even our parents, did they have you purely for you and not themselves, did or do they do everything for you? Apply my first questions to these and you could be suprised what comes out.
Specforces |
I've caught this train before, and I think I agree that people (including myself) always have personal benefits in doing something for someone else. I suppose this is because not doing things like this would make us seem mean, and that wouldn't benefit us. I guess a question that goes with this is "Why wouldn't you do something that would make you look selfless, even if it benefits you without others' knowledge."
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People help others because it makes them feel good or in worst cases, just for an image.
Everything that you do affects you in some way which is why you do it. |
Exactly, I would like someone to refute this hypothesis: "We cannot do something for another without gaining something on some level." I am not admantly adhering to this principle, I would just like to see someone refute it.
Thanks, Specforces |
There have been times that I've cursed and sworn and still ended up giving an extra 25 cents to someone that needed it to get a soda at school. I was not happy about it, but I went and did it anyway. I'm not exactly sure why. I don't think it was as an image thing (everything thinks I'm an asshole as is), it wasn't out of friendship (I didn't like the person), and it wasn't because I like to lose money. I'm too generous for my own good.
That's the only example I can think of, though. My question to your line of thought: What purpose would it serve to say that there is no such thing as being truly selfless? Yeah, people may get some satisfaction over something they do for a friend, but they still do it to help the friend and not to get those feelings of happiness. |
Subliminally you probably enjoyed giving him that money because you knew that it would improve your relations in the future, or maybe there would come a time when you needed $ from him.
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You have given him the money because you were being sworn and cursed at in school and giving the money away will get your friends to back off and leave you alone.
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I think that doing something for someone else would require Agape (that is perfect or unconditional love for those who don't know). The Bible says that God loves humanity unconditionally, so it would make sense that Jesus would be capable of doing something for humanity with no reward for himself.
Also, look at the belief that Jesus defeated Satan at the cross. Victory is a great motivator, and perhaps this was one small reason for his death, to have defeated Satan and saved the world. Finally, if God did create the universe, would he not feel some kind of obligation to save it from evil or from its demise. People are often very protective of their creations, and can garner pleasure from knowing that their creation is safe from any certain danger. |
^^This post belongs to me^^
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you gave him or her the money because in all actuality you like the person but you dont want to show it.
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Is somebody deleting my posts?
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Not a damn person but my commanding officer in JROTC saw the exchange. We were sitting in the back room for the officers only (so pretty much for me and the guy above me, us being the two top ranking cadets). Someone asked for permission to enter. We granted it. He asked for a quarter. I flipped the kid one and went back to doing whatever it was I was working on. And no, I DO NOT like the person. In all my dealings here on FFR, what in the hell makes you think I have reason to lie? It's not like anyone that even attended my entire high school comes here, so I'm not saying things to keep up appearances. Let me put words in my own mouth, because most likely, those are the "most correct" as to my own feelings, okay? |
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