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[–] MetalAegis ago 

You can bet they didn't do it out of altruism but rather for a profit or the consolidation of power, one could argue that nearly every discovery or grand gesture of alluded altruism was motivated by a desire for profit, power or fame, say for the ones that cared specifically for the betterment of mankind.

Nothing sacrificed, everything gained, is that true altruism?

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[–] 12302118? 0 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago 

What is the greatest lie every created? What is the most vicious obscenity ever perpetrated on mankind? Slavery? The Holocaust? Dictatorship? No. It's the tool with which all that wickedness is built: Altruism. Whenever anyone wants others to do their work, they call upon their Altruism. 'Never mind your own needs', they say, 'think of the needs of... of whoever. The state. The poor. Of the army. Of the king. Of God!' The list goes on and on. How many catastrophes were launched with the words: 'Think of yourself?' It's the "king and country" crowd who light the torch of destruction. It is this great inversion, this ancient lie, which has chained humanity to an endless cycle of guilt and failure.

Plot spoiler: Most, if not virtually all achievements of humanity were driven by selfish gains and the ability to reap the fruits of the necessary labour to achieve them.

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[–] MetalAegis 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

No arguments here, but in the end there needs to be a balance of personal amelioration and societal progression.

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[–] Joe_McCarthy [S] 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

Doesn't seem particularly unique to Jews though. If one agrees with Schopenhauer (part Dutch as an aside) altruistic acts have a selfish motive if only in the good feeling one acquires in doing a good deed.

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[–] Quaestorr 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago  (edited ago)

Schopenhauer (part Dutch as an aside)

Never knew that, thanks!

 

altruistic acts have a selfish motive if only in the good feeling one acquires in doing a good deed.

This is one of the core ideas of my personal Weltanschauung. (Btw Richard Dawkins (probably not popular in these circles — a pity imho) wrote interesting stuff on this in The Selfish Gene.)

Still, I think it is possible to come to an idealistic morality based on a Nietzschean utilitarianism, that in practice differs little from Christian virtue. (I refer to the Christianity that inspired the medieval poets and troubadours to compose stories and songs about heroic knights; the noble faith practiced by proud Europeans, Americans, South Africans — of course not the self-loathing cult that it has become today in most of the West).

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[–] MetalAegis 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago  (edited ago)

Not all, the story of Jesus Christ and ultimate sacrifice is one of altruism. In fact nearly all willing martyrs that have had a positive effect on society did so out of altruism. But your original point that something is never done for nothing, I can't refute that philosophical axiom because seemingly it speaks true, but anecdotally how many times have you offered to help someone and you really didn't want to, received nothing in return, not even that feeling of benevolence but you helped regardless?