(January 19, 2012 at 1:37 am)Perhaps Wrote: Altruism is, by definition, an ideal. An ideal is something which can never be reached.
The theory of cause and effect paired with the law of equal and opposite reactions simply negates any possibility of its existence.
No matter the mindset of the individual performing the deed, they will receive something in return - whether good or bad, wanted or not, for better or worse.
One example is a philanthropist. They give large quantities of money away and in return receive thanks and gratitude, or resent, or neutral feelings, etc. To be altruistic requires that you receive absolutely nothing in return for your action. You could specify the definition to move away from an ideal, but the ideal still remains impossible.
I'd be glad to discuss the term further.
I'm not sure that "receiving" something in return is the correct measure of altruism. For example, if you are saving someone from a burning building and you "receive" injuries, that does not affect the altruism of the fact.
I think to make an action "not purely altruistic", what you receive in exchange should be good, for better or wanted.
Interestingly, even with this form of altruism, the "ideal" does remain impracticable in real life.
