altruism

plural altruisms · alternative altruïsm

1. countableuncountableRegard for others, both natural and moral without regard for oneself; devotion to the interests of others; brotherly kindness.

   The preposterous altruism too![…]Resist not evil. It is an insane immolation of self—as bad intrinsically as fakirs stabbing themselves or anchorites warping their spines in caves scarcely large enough for a fair-sized dog.

   1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XVI, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC

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   Altruism allows doing for others as one would be done by. Unlike reaction formation, which also gives to the object what the self desires, altruism leaves the self at least partly gratified. Unlike reaction formation, altruism tempers asceticism with pleasure. Unlike passive aggression and martyrdom, altruism allows the object to feel blessed and not afflicted. Altruism attracts people to the user; martyrdom repels them even as it holds them close in chains.

   1995, George E. Vaillant, The Wisdom of the Ego, page 68

   Synonyms: selflessness, philanthropy · Antonyms: egoism, selfishness, misanthropy

2. countableuncountablebiologyAction or behaviour that benefits another or others at some cost to the performer.

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   Altruism is a behaviour of an individual that benefits another at its own expense.[…]She decided to investigate what motivates ants to undertake these dangerous missions, where they risk getting trapped themselves or, worse, eaten by predatory antlion larvae, which dig pits and lurk, semi-concealed, at the bottom with their jaws wide open. Such apparently selfless rescue behaviour is seen by many as one of the purest forms of altruism.[…]Being nice to relatives is not pure altruism because they share your genes so, by helping them, you promote your own genetic heritage.

   2013 December 24, Laura Spinney, Goodwill hunting: Random ants of kindness, New Scientist

   Synonyms: philanthropy