In another blurb[2],
on BigThink.com, Stephen Post talks about group altruism literally paying.
Where at one failing dealership, the group took afternoons off unpaid and
everyone kept their jobs. At another dealership, people didn’t stay with the
group mentality and many were let go. Yet, that point in itself is
contradictory, because this group altruistic motivator was founded on a
selfishly made reason…to keep their jobs.
George R. Price
is one figure that commonly referenced to when discussing altruism. He
contributed to science in various ways, but, towards the latter portion of his
life, he devoted his time to prove or disprove altruism. Some acknowledge him
as a genuine altruist…ministering to the poor and needy. He was giving of his
house to the homeless and, at times, had to sleep in his office or on the floor
due to the amount of people living in his home. Eventually, due to
construction, he was thrown out of his home. Depression hit and unable to prove
his theory, Price committed suicide in 1975. Oren Harman wrote an account of
Price’s history in “The Price of Altruism: George Price and the Search for the
Origins of Human Kindness.” I have yet to read this book, but I have it in my
Kindle list.
My brother turned
me on to Price’s story of altruism. My brother stating that altruism doesn’t
exist and for those who try will literally die from being altruistic…and he
uses Price as an example. However, with the knowledge I have at the moment, was
Price really a representative of altruism? He, in an attempt to prove his
theory, practiced altruistic stances. He practiced giving and helping to prove
his theory right or wrong. The whole premise itself derives from an egocentric
standpoint. He wanted to prove his theory; thereby, any actions taken were done
for his theory and not out of selflessness.
I would like to
believe in altruism. I would like to believe that there is a selfless kindness
out in the world. As I get older, I’ve become more realistic. I do believe in
kindness. I believe in good and bad karma. I believe there is such a thing as
soul mates and true love. I know there is good in the world. At the same time, I
have come to learn that you give some and you take some. What you do does not
exist unless it is known to others. Ultimately, you give to get. Ayn Rand stated,
“If any civilization is to survive, it is the morality of altruism that men
have to reject.” Even the great Richard Dawkins acknowledges human selfishness
by stating, “Let us try to teach generosity and altruism, because we are born
selfish.” We have definitively discovered through scientific studies that “there’s
no such thing as altruism.”[3]
[1] Dingfelder, Sadie. “Altruism: an accident of nature?” Copyright 2006. Accessed 20 July 2014. http://www.apa.org/monitor/dec06/altruism.aspx
[2] Post, Stephen. “Group Altruism
Pays, Literally.” Copyright 2013. Accessed 20 July 2014. http://bigthink.com/60-second-reads/group-altruism-pays-literally
[3] Andrew Tobias. “Brainy Quote:
Altruism” Copyright 2014. Accessed 20 July 2014.
http://www.branyquote.com/quotes/keywords/altruism.html