Is is possible to be completely selfless?

[chris_uk_83]

I argue that it isn't possible to carry out a completely selfless act. I reason this because any act of kindness that you do makes you feel better about yourself for having done it. Therefore there is personal gain involved in any selfless act. Therefore the act isn't completely selfless because you get something back from it (even if the bad stuff that happens to you as a result of the selfless act far outweighs the good feeling you get from doing it).

Friendships for example, are selfish. We have friends because they make us feel good about ourselves, give us a sense of companionship and somebody to rely on.

If you're religious then this view counts double, because not only are you feeling good about your 'selfless' act, but you're also trying to get yourself into heaven (or whatever other afterlife your religion has).

[Chaigidel]

selflessness is something that aids a society but not an individual :O, and its thought to be a natural thing that happens if you are "close" to god so no real motive exists there for the truly good like mother teresa perhaps-- there is no special place in heaven for those who help they dying, and its not pleasant but she did it--- perhaps she did enjoy helping them and in that respect i suppose it was selfish but--- just because you have some selfish interests doesnt make the act selfish ? maybe

largely i agree its very difficult to get the actual ideal selfless act so to speak
im sure christians would say Jesus did a truly selfless act, you know going to hell for the sins of man or what not. judas did a pretty selfless act as well :O
again the buddha as well left a life of leisure to help the poor and weary, he didnt preach any reward but oblivion :O and taught people to not be slaves of desire, so i would say the buddha was relatively selfless.

[Thanatos]

No, because you would then be Jesus.

[enoch]

yes

edit - maybe buddha or other great men, but not really, maybe, who can no

and no, just no, but jesus still had a lot going for him anyway

[Silver Guard]

There was a discussion, a full thread on this only about two weeks ago, please use the search button when investigating issues

[Cluny the Scourge]

Selflessness is for pussies. People despise the selfless and admire those who take without asking.

[Noble Savage]

Selflessness is for pussies. People despise the selfless and admire those who take without asking.

Mother Teresa ,Florence Nightingale ,Gandhi ,Malcom X etc

These people are seen as selfless (maybe they weren't but thats how they are perceived) .They will be remembered as well as the selfish (Julius Caesar , King Louis XVI , Margaret Thatcher ) . The selfless highlighted never knew they were going to be famous but they are seen as modern day saints are are surely respected by the majority of the people living today. Although force and agression are respected , its easier to take than it is to give

[Tom Paine]

Who are the most well known people of ancient times? Hm? Odysseus. Achilles. Agamemnon. Menelaus. Hector. All but one of them, self-centred. All but one of them, selfish. And that one? He gets killed and his body desecrated! Oh, clearly, the non-self centred are remembered well!

[Curtana]

Who gives a flying **** about being remembered?
I'd rather live a blameless happy life than be J.Stalin or A.Hitler and notorious for all the wrong reasons.
That said it is not necessarily desirable to be totally selfless. Whether it is possible then becomes a moot point.

_{Did you know Tuesday is named after Tiw? Anglo-Saxon god of glory and personal combat. NFFNSNC}

[Tom Paine]

Okay, I'll add to my previous question: How are Achilles, Odysseus, &c remembered?

[Noble Savage]

Okay, I'll add to my previous question: How are Achilles, Odysseus, &c remembered?

Okay as self-absorbed heroes , great warriors and maybe loyal. We remember these heroes as great fighters not as great human beings like the one's I mentioned.If the battles they fought weren't so dramatic or if they weren't mentioned by Homer would they be cherished?. Wouldn't you rather be remembered as something who helps mankind or as war mongers?

[LSJ]

Everything everyone does in someway helps themselves. If you donate to a charity, you are doing it to either feel like a better person, because not doing it will hurt your conscience, or because your religion asks it and you are punished for being selfish. So really, everything you do helps you in some way, no matter how tiny - so no one can be completely selfless.





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