Altruism or Benevolence?
This is an area badly in need of clarification. So, with a little help from some perceptive minds, let's explore: There is a great confusion in the minds of most people concerning the nature of altruism or that it derives from the principle of benevolence, good will and kindness toward others.Advocates of altruism take great pains to encourage this belief--to establish a "package deal" so as to conceal from their victim the actual meaning of altruist morality .
The view that altruism and benevolence are the same is a great error. Altruism holds that man must makethe others above self. Such a view is worse than mistaken; it is a perversion entailed in the technique called "the big lie."It represents the exact opposite of the truth;altruism and benevolence are not only different, they are mutually inimical. man has no right to exist for his own sake, that service to others is the moral justification of his existence, that self-sacrifice is his foremost duty.A philosophy that tells man that he is no more than a sacrificial animal . This is not an expression of benevolence or good will.
Let us do a thought experiment, a device which served Einstein so well.:Ask yourself what your reaction would be if the person you loved were to tell you:"Don't imagine that I want to marry you out of any selfish expectation of pleasure.Don't imagine that I see anything to admire in you,or that I find your company interesting, or that I enjoy our relationship any manner whatever.In fact, I find you boring and thoughrolly unappealing.But, I wouldn't be so selfish as to seek anything personally from our marriage.Don't imagine that your thoughts or feelings are of any actual interest to me or that I do any of the things I do for you because I care for your happiness -- don't think that there's anything in it for me whether you're happy or not. I'm not an egoist, after all I'm marrying you out of pity,out of charity, as a duty I'm marrying you out of compassion for your flaws, not admiration for your virtues because I know that you need me. I'm doing it as an act of sef sacrifice"
The view that altruism and benevolence are the same is a great error. Altruism holds that man must makethe others above self. Such a view is worse than mistaken; it is a perversion entailed in the technique called "the big lie."It represents the exact opposite of the truth;altruism and benevolence are not only different, they are mutually inimical. man has no right to exist for his own sake, that service to others is the moral justification of his existence, that self-sacrifice is his foremost duty.A philosophy that tells man that he is no more than a sacrificial animal . This is not an expression of benevolence or good will.
Let us do a thought experiment, a device which served Einstein so well.:Ask yourself what your reaction would be if the person you loved were to tell you:"Don't imagine that I want to marry you out of any selfish expectation of pleasure.Don't imagine that I see anything to admire in you,or that I find your company interesting, or that I enjoy our relationship any manner whatever.In fact, I find you boring and thoughrolly unappealing.But, I wouldn't be so selfish as to seek anything personally from our marriage.Don't imagine that your thoughts or feelings are of any actual interest to me or that I do any of the things I do for you because I care for your happiness -- don't think that there's anything in it for me whether you're happy or not. I'm not an egoist, after all I'm marrying you out of pity,out of charity, as a duty I'm marrying you out of compassion for your flaws, not admiration for your virtues because I know that you need me. I'm doing it as an act of sef sacrifice"
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I saw far fewer males with this attitude. I have been blessed with a quick mind, excellent health, and an instinct for staying out of financial trouble, and have engaged in what I believe as acts of benevolence for people down on their luck if I thought they deserved a break. I definitely don't go eagerly hunting for situations where I can sacrifice myself or well being, so I guess I'm not guilty of altruism. Some have tried to tell me my military service was altruistic, but I tell them it was a worthwhile investment of my time, to help retain the concept of a government intended to serve the free individual.
But, Let's look at this another way: How can one, "love thyself" AND be altruistic at the same time...this is where the Organization of the teachings goes south, I'm talkin Socrates south here.
So let's put these concepts back into perspective: "Love thyself" - care for yourself and your own survival in appreciation of existing.
That seems to be a rationally "Celf Interested realization of that statement.
But at the same time we are to help others, which actually means, "Share one's abundance, (what ever you have in excess beyond your own happiness and survival" (which humans seem to do without so much as a pointed waving finger...if allowed to)...That seems to me to be the meaning and intention of, "benevolence" or what I would call: Mutuality. Something mankind could not have survived this long without.
Now, Altruism...does not fit the "Human" narrative when considering the above concepts. It is purely a "Collective" concept, one inwhich would eradicated mankind off the face of this earth.
BUT...it does have it's use IF we apply it to Governments. I envision this being applied in the sense of an individual, having enough abundance to survive and wishing to dedicate the time, knowledge and good will, toward the protection of everyone else's natural rights of property, contracts and happiness.
I really do not think that a "Conscious being", actually sacrifices him self in the service of or protection of, others or even an ideal. One might calculate the odds of survival and take the risks in spite of the odds, but I don't think, one actually thinks they will not survive those risks.
Not one cell in the body sacrifices itself for the survival of the community of cells we call you.
And That is the Caveat. Obviously, only the "Non-Conscious" entities could be altruistic: sacrificing self for an ideal or the collective. We see that, certainly in regards to islam and many like them throughout history.
That is Progressive revisionism and confounding of our language...Un-confounded by your's truly, the best way I can.