Not A Poll: Does Motivation Affect Morality?

[Excited Penguin]

What moral wrong? How was one act selfless, and an act of survival? You would also only donate to publicly compete with some other person who donated?

How is it a good thought exercise?

Maybe I should've just replied with a big question mark.

I am talking about the found money scenario, but the donation scenario is an equally interesting thought. It makes me think about the motivations behind my own charitable acts. 

In that case that wasn't an act of survival, but one of parenting. I would classify selflessness as an instance where you help more distant people, preferably strangers, I wouldn't it call it selfless exactly to help your kid.

Did I think it was the right thing to do, or was I motivated by appearing moral and good by other people?

That's the same thing.

 Have I made charitable donations because I am selfless, or because it makes me look better to others? Or is it done to feel better about myself? Is that a selfish act itself? 

You're not "selfless", nobody is. You did it to look better to others and also to feel better about yourself - we tend to think of ourselves in the third person as well. It was naturally selfish, you've got nothing to worry about.

The selfless act committed with the found money was not a material purchase for self gratification. But it was motivated by that just the same, the health of a child, or at least one could argue that it was.

Are you saying it wasn't so selfless after all to take care of that child, because I completely agree if so.


Look, none of this means we're twisted and life doesn't have any meaning. It's all the same, and we're the same, and it's still more morally sound to treat your sick child than to buy new shoes. We're just a little confused about language and social status, that's all.