People are selfish by nature, however we have demonstrated times of great sacrifice when such sacrifice is needed. Helping other people is an act most of us perform without even thinking about it. For centuries neighbors have help other neighbors, families have helped other family members and internationally, governments have given other countries’ governments advice, food, medical care, military help or financial support. We live in a country that has always been there for other countries that have needed our help whether they have wanted it or not. Have you ever thought about how selfless Americans are in a time of war or great national tragedy and how selfish we are in times of peace? This might be because in times of peace we are so involved…
What is generosity? To some, it's giving more than you have to individuals that might need it more than you do. To others, it's trying to make people smile, or make someone's day a little bit brighter. Being generous does not mean that you have to give money, sometimes you just have to give time and attention. Every person has a different definition of what it means. Anne Frank states that "No one has ever become poor by giving." Is that because being generous makes your heart feel rich? Frank A. Clark says "Real generosity is doing something nice for someone who will never notice." If no one ever acknowledges when someone does a considerate deed for them, why does generosity spread? In this day and age, people broadcast…
References: Krebs, D. L. (1970). Altruism: An examination of the concept and a review of the literature. Psychological Bulletin, 73(4), 258-302. doi:10.1037/h0028987…
As people mention the virtue, generosity, they always conceive of an image of a wealthy philanthropist who donates his money to people in need. However, in my opinion, the concept of generosity exceeds the narrow connotation of giving to others, and not only can rich people become generous; rather, generosity comprises of empathy to share others’ feelings, magnanimous tolerance towards other people, and returning to them with kindness.…
Everyone, every day, has a chance to show compassion to someone in need. When people are driving down the road and see others, homeless, sitting out by the road just waiting for someone to show them a little compassion and help them out. That is a chance to show some compassion even on a small scale. I know I usually don’t take these opportunities to show compassion, but why? Why is something so simple and easy as handing a dude a dollar on the street hard for me to do? This is probably due to the fact that I don’t like to be out of my comfort zone when dealing with strangers. Who knows what this raggedy man is capable of doing. What if he isn’t even really homeless, and just looking for some easy money. In the end, this man that sits on the side of the road all day long wants the same thing as me, in the Dalai Lama “The Ethics of Compassion” the author writes “…whether fortunate or unfortunate, distant or near, they desire to be happy and not to suffer.” How would I live differently if I took the ideas of this author seriously?…
Performing the act of kindness of providing money for food to someone in need helped to build moral character for both parties involved. The person in need, perhaps has gained knowledge he or she is not alone and others do care about what happens to him or her. The person receiving the gift may reciprocate the act by searching for jobs or applying for social support. The person giving the gift has become responsible to help others; this act can lead to bigger acts in the community of aid to others. Many people in the community practicing altruism can be beneficial in teaching social responsibility to others. In such efforts to promote altruism limits exist in persuading others to become responsible in the plight.…
Before, I was all about myself, I knew what I needed and knew what to do to get what I needed. But since I have had this experience I have decided that giving is the life for me. I now see that I am not the only person in the world that has needs, and I am also not the only person in the world who struggles to meet said needs. And I believe that if I lead the rest of my life giving, I could inspire someone else to give, too. Luther was all it took to start the peasant revolt. That alone is enough proof that if one mind changes, several will follow after it. If we all become giving citizens maybe we can all find our inner…
Offering incentives for charitable acts can be acceptable depending on the true motivation of the person that is being charitable. It is morally unacceptable if the person does it only for the intention of receiving a reward; however, if their motivation is out of kindness, then it becomes morally acceptable to receive an incentive.…
When it comes to charity, morality, and concern for one another, humans tend to vary drastically on how we feel and act depending on the circumstance and the individual. What makes this issue so complex is the fact that we are naturally set to want to help one another and be kind (in most cases) while at the same time being naturally focused on the survival and wellbeing of ourselves and loved ones over most other things. These natural settings, of course, are all influenced by the individual’s life situation. For example, a person with no family may be more willing, if willing at all, than a person with three kids to run into a burning building to save a random stranger from apparent death. What keeps us from helping others and what makes us help others is different for every individual. Although these differences may vary incredibly, there tends to be a shared feeling of the “greater good” that most experience.…
There seems to be an inexhaustible number of reasons that one person might go out of his way to assist another. One of the more interesting of these is to give to soothe one's conscience, or to avoid the guilt that comes with not offering help when you can. Ma Joad used this reason to feed the starving children at the first Hooverville they stayed at. She looked at those kids and tried to avoid giving them food so she could feed her family. Even Uncle Tom had a hard time eating his food with those hungry children looking on. Ma eventually soothed her conscience by giving the kids the dregs of the soup kettle, though she knew she should have given the entire helping to her family, as they had less than enough themselves.…
We live in a world of opportunity. Everyone deserves an opportunity, but, unfortunately, not everybody gets one. For those who are less fortunate, receiving donations may be the only way they get by in life. There are many high schools, clubs and organizations that sponsor charity drives in exchange for incentives. The fact that such events are helping those who are in need makes it clear that people can be good, but that sometimes they just need to be persuaded a little.…
Should humans receive incentives for charitable acts? This question has been controversial over the last few years. Many people have seen an issue with this, believing that receiving incentives could send a morally wrong message but is that the case for everyone? I believe that wrongdoings sends a morally wrong message and not helping out the less fortunate is as much as a wrongdoing as not helping your fellow brethren. Helping others is good for one's own soul and others as well; it gives us a sense of hope and belonging. Whether it's to fulfill one's own selfish needs or to truly help out others; the motive doesn't matter because the outcome is always the same. People should be for receiving incentives because the gains outweigh the losses.…
An arbitrary act of kind behavior is a supposedly altruistic act accomplished by an individual or humans looking to either commit a hand or cheer up a human or in a few events it exerts to creatures. There will typically be no cause other than to induce the smile of the people, or be more pleased. Either impulsive or deliberate, random acts of kindness are promoted by several societies. Ann Herbert (1982), a renowned peace militant of California, supposedly composed on a placemat in a restaurant “Exercise random acts of kindness and pointless acts of beauty.” The phrases left a depression on an associate diner, who afterwards broadcast the word to other people. The word energized much idea and treatment, including the film “Pay it forward” (2000). The movie was a great hit and acted a prominent part to sling this conception as well.…
Nina Hagen who is a German singer once said “Do some selfless service for people who are in need. Consider the whole picture, not just our little selves.” There have been a lot of people who have committed some selflessness acts though out our history. Rosa Park refused to move to the back of the bus she stood up for the rights of African-Americans. Then there is the selflessness of people giving kidneys and bone marrow to others while they are alive. Even though the surgery could kill them, they are willing to sacrifice their lives in a major act of selflessness. Cameron Lyle a 21-year-old college athlete gave up his shot put career to donate bone marrow to a complete stranger that was given only months to live. He sacrificed his own life and dreams to save the life of another person he didn’t even know. Parents also show major acts of selflessness for their children. Parents sometimes have more than one job so they can be able to provide better things for their children. Police officers show an abundance of selflessness by saving people’s lives or sometimes buying clothes and shoes for underprivileged children. The people who run homeless shelters and nonprofit companies show selfless acts by donating items and services to people in need. These people get nothing in return for their good deeds in helping out people who are less…
Singer argues that many people are not willing to put aside their wants, and make a sacrifice to help impoverished children. Now, evolutionary psychologists tell us that human nature just is not sufficiently altruistic to make it plausible that many people will not sacrifice so much for stranger (327). This statement saddens me, because what if that is your or your family, and somebody thought of you all strangers, and would not want to help your family out of poverty? Singer then explains that we ought to do things that predictably most of wouldn’t (327). Majority feel that if does benefit them in the end then why bother. Honestly, donating will benefit you it makes you feel like a better person, and you have helped an individual in need. Sometimes you should sacrifice your wants for others needs. As singer states the life of a child is more important then going to fancy restaurants, the next time you dine out know that you could…