Is true selflessness possible?

[BornInMarch]

It is generally accepted that a good deed is not generous if the person doing it expects a reward.

But EVERY good deed has some form of reward. Whether it be public recognition, a place in Heaven, a sense of moral superiority, or even just a warm fuzzy feeling inside, there is no act of goodness that doesn’t have some form of reward.

Therefore, is it possible to be truly selfless?

 

[1Lord1Faith]

It is generally accepted that a good deed is not generous if the person doing it expects a reward.

But EVERY good deed has some form of reward. Whether it be public recognition, a place in Heaven, a sense of moral superiority, or even just a warm fuzzy feeling inside, there is no act of goodness that doesn’t have some form of reward.

Therefore, is it possible to be truly selfless?

of course it is. A person only has to not expect anything in return for an act to be selfless.

 

[Robert_Sock]

The question on whether pure altruism exists is often thrown around in psychology, with no clear answers one way or another.

 

[MT1926]

It is generally accepted that a good deed is not generous if the person doing it expects a reward.

But EVERY good deed has some form of reward. Whether it be public recognition, a place in Heaven, a sense of moral superiority, or even just a warm fuzzy feeling inside, there is no act of goodness that doesn’t have some form of reward.

Therefore, is it possible to be truly selfless?

Yes someone that gives their life for another is truly selfless.

That being said I do see the point you are getting at here. For me it is easy, I hate public recognition, that is more a punishment than a reward. I tend not to feel morally superior but can sometimes feel humanly superior, that is why I always keep Matthew 19:26 at the forefront of my life.“With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” It helps me to keep a focus on the fact that my superiority is a gift from God. The warm fuzzy feeling doesn’t occur to often, I am not a fuzzy person. As for the heavenly reward Jesus stated:
Matthew 6

Giving
6 When you do good deeds, don’t try to show off. If you do, you won’t get a reward from your Father in heaven.

2 When you give to the poor, don’t blow a loud horn. That’s what show-offs do in the meeting places and on the street corners, because they are always looking for praise. I can assure you that they already have their reward.

3 When you give to the poor, don’t let anyone know about it.[a] 4 Then your gift will be given in secret. Your Father knows what is done in secret, and he will reward you.
I don’t think this can be considered an expectation since Jesus says the Father will freely give it. Not to mention first we gotta get there in order to claim it, therefore it isn’t a guaranteed reward, so not the reason I did the good deed to begin with.

Great question really helps to keep focused on why we do good works.

 

[GEddie]

Not as long as we have natural bodies.

ICXC NIKA

 

[Ron_Conte]

The two great commandments are to love God above all else, and to love your neighbor as yourself. This threefold ordered love of God, neighbor, self is one love, which always includes the ordered love of self. So a holy life, lived in what we call “selfless love” is not literally selfless. Loving God and loving one’s neighbor is always also truly good for you.

The idea that a selfless love should either offer no benefits to the individual, or should be to the detriment of the individual is a secular idea, not the Christian understanding.

 

[Beryllos]

You do not have to deny the rewards that may come with righteousness. It is part of God’s design. Do not reject these gifts, but give thanks and praise to God.

 

[Padres1969]

of course it is. A person only has to not expect anything in return for an act to be selfless.

My thoughts exactly. I soldier who throws himself on a grenade in split second to save his comrades doesn’t expect any kind of reward for it. He’s simply acting purely selflessly in that moment.

 

[Robert_Sock]

My thoughts exactly. I soldier who throws himself on a grenade in split second to save his comrades doesn’t expect any kind of reward for it. He’s simply acting purely selflessly in that moment.

Where is the motivation for the seemingly selfless state? Could it be that he did it for Christ in hope of his salvation? Or, did he act selflessly out of love which he values greatly? Here love is the motivation which acts as an intrinsic reward. Such would not be pure altruism.

 

[Padres1969]

Where is the motivation for the seemingly selfless state? Could it be that he did it for Christ in hope of his salvation? Or, did he act selflessly out of love which he values greatly? Here love is the motivation which acts as an intrinsic reward. Such would not be pure altruism.

Considering such an act occurs in a split second I doubt much conscious thought goes into it. I wouldn’t even say it’s necessarily love. There’s no guarantee he loves his comrades he’d be saving. There’s no guarantee such a person believes in salvation and/or Christ. But even if those are underlying positions he holds, that he loves his comrades or that he believes in Christ and salvation, it doesn’t mean it factors into the decision in the VERY limited time such a decision is made.

 

[mikekle]

I think this is one reason, why giving and donating today must have some kind of recognition or ‘reward’ (tax write off), its a great thing for all the charities out there, but I just wonder how many big corporations and wealthy donors would still give as much money as they do, if the tax benefit were not there and there was no other reward or recognition for doing so.

 

[Wesrock]

To my mind, this question is like saying “a vacuum doesn’t really suck anything, it just pushes out air creating a vacuum and the pressure differential causes air to rush in.”

Yes, I know. That’s what we mean by suction. Likewise, doing something because your only reward is pleasure in someone else’ happiness and well-being as opposed to any type of worldly gain is altruism.

 

[Robert_Sock]

To my mind, this question is like saying “a vacuum doesn’t really suck anything, it just pushes out air creating a vacuum and the pressure differential causes air to rush in.”

Yes, I know. That’s what we mean by suction. Likewise, doing something because your only reward is pleasure in someone else’ happiness and well-being as opposed to any type of worldly gain is altruism.

All rewards are experienced intrinsically. The value of love has to also be experienced intrinsically, and thus acts as the reward. Pure altruism would imply that good actions are done without any reward.

 

[littlestsouls2]

Yes.

Many of the Saints said that they would willingly be sent to Hell if it were God’s Will. St. Margaret Mary (from memory) said that she would rather have her name effaced from the Book of Life than commit a sin.

 

[exnihilo]

The argument against altruism imagines a world where good deeds are only good if they result in only bad things for the actor. It suggests that we should feel bad for doing good. But what sense does that make? It makes perfect sense that good deeds should make us feel good and bad deeds should make us feel bad. The argument against altruism boils down to the only people who good be altruistic are those who are purely evil. But purely evil people do not do good. Of course altruism exists and we shouldn’t be concerned that when you act in accord with nature you might experience positive feelings.

 

[Wesrock]

All rewards are experienced intrinsically. The value of love has to also be experienced intrinsically, and thus acts as the reward. Pure altruism would imply that good actions are done without any reward.

It’s not about how it’s experienced, but what the reward itself is.

 

[BobCatholic]

If you love someone, you are unselfish toward them with no expectation of being paid back or rewarded.

For example parenthood:
When you do loving things for your children, you’re not thinking “OK, this kid is going to pay me back any minute…now.” Nope. 3AM feedings must be done. Changing diapers must be done. Putting band-aids on boo-boos must be done. Zero paycheck or reward for any of this.

And in the same way, for love of God one does unselfish things.

 

[Robert_Sock]

If you love someone, you are unselfish toward them with no expectation of being paid back or rewarded.

For example parenthood:
When you do loving things for your children, you’re not thinking “OK, this kid is going to pay me back any minute…now.” Nope. 3AM feedings must be done. Changing diapers must be done. Putting band-aids on boo-boos must be done. Zero paycheck or reward for any of this.

And in the same way, for love of God one does unselfish things.

Promoting love can be highly valued and thus act as an intrinsic reward.