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Kurushimi · 05-10-2008

Once again, the fact that you care about and feel sympathy towards something other than yourself is unselfish in itself. If you didn't care, you would be being selfish. Let's say you jumped infront of a bullet for somone or pushed some out of the way of a vehicle. Your first thought wouldn't be "Oh man, I'm gonna feel so good inside if I save this guy" as you obviously wouldn't with a bullet in your chest or a vehicle ramming you. Sacrifice like this is the ultimate form of unselfishness.

But, even when you're not sacrficing yourself for the benefit of others but merely helping out with little personal cost it could still be unselfish. Let's use your kitten example. You wouldn't be sacrificing much in moving the branch but wouldn't be gaining much either. When you move the branch you are thinking only of the kitten (at least, that's the way I am) not of any joy you might get from freeing it. Thus, it is an unselfish act.

Edit:
@DT: I believe he was saying the second option, how each indvidual human only cares for himself.

05-10-2008	#338 (permalink)
Kurushimi Naruto Ranked (23) Akatsuki Junior Partner Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Realizing everyone you know someday will die. And that you will meet up with them in heaven. Posts: 2,554 Rep Power: 120	Re: We humans only care about ourselves. Once again, the fact that you care about and feel sympathy towards something other than yourself is unselfish in itself. If you didn't care, you would be being selfish. Let's say you jumped infront of a bullet for somone or pushed some out of the way of a vehicle. Your first thought wouldn't be "Oh man, I'm gonna feel so good inside if I save this guy" as you obviously wouldn't with a bullet in your chest or a vehicle ramming you. Sacrifice like this is the ultimate form of unselfishness. But, even when you're not sacrficing yourself for the benefit of others but merely helping out with little personal cost it could still be unselfish. Let's use your kitten example. You wouldn't be sacrificing much in moving the branch but wouldn't be gaining much either. When you move the branch you are thinking only of the kitten (at least, that's the way I am) not of any joy you might get from freeing it. Thus, it is an unselfish act. Edit: @DT: I believe he was saying the second option, how each indvidual human only cares for himself. __________________ The worst part is when sidewalk cracks are out-of-sync with your natural stride. ~ xkcd GENERATION 4: The first time you see this, copy it into your sig on any forum and add 1 to the generation. Social experiment.