[MD] Altruism

[Ham Priday]

Horse, Ben, Platt --


The development and advocacy of Altruism is interesting in several respects.

The word "altruism" was coined by Auguste Comte -- the French founder of
Positivism -- to mean the opposite of Egoism.  It was later adopted in
England by Herbert Spencer and (according to Runes' Dictionary) has come to
be known as the "cult of benevolence".

Runes notes: "For Comte, Altruism meant the discipline and eridication of
self-centered desire, and a life devoted to others; more particularly,
selfless love and devotion to Society."

Wikipedia quotes Comte's manifest for Altruism from his 'Catechisme
Positiviste', as follows:

"[the] social point of view cannot tolerate the notion of rights, for such
notion rests on individualism.  We are born under a load of obligations of
every kind, to our predecessors, to our successors, to our contemporaries.
After our birth these obligations increase or accumulate, for it is some
time before we can return any service.... This ["to live for others"], the
definitive formula of human morality, gives a direct sanction exclusively to
our instincts of benevolence, the common source of happiness and duty. [Man
must serve] Humanity, whose we are entirely."

Sounds a lot like the evolutionist morality of a certain contemporary
philosopher, doesn't it?  Particularly that second sentence about being
obligated to our predecessors.  (I'm beginning to wonder if it's just
coincidental that we're discussing Altruism here.)

For Ben's benefit, Wikipedia goes on to say ...

"Advocates of altruism as an ethical doctrine maintain that one ought to
act, or refrain from acting, so that benefit or good is bestowed on other
people, if necessary to the exclusion of one's own interests (Note that
refraining from murdering someone, for example, is not altruism since he is
not receiving a benefit or being helped, as he already has his life; this
would amount to the same thing as ignoring someone)."

Hmmn.  I've never considered the possibility that not doing evil is moral
Goodness.  Possibly there's hope for me yet!

Best regards,
Ham