Pathological Altruism

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Oakley defines pathological altruism as “altruism in which attempts to promote the welfare of others instead result in unanticipated harm.” A crucial qualification is that while the altruistic actor fails to anticipate the harm, “an external observer would conclude [that it] was reasonably foreseeable.” Thus, she explains, if you offer to help a friend move, then accidentally break an expensive item, your altruism probably isn’t pathological; whereas if your brother is addicted to painkillers and you help him obtain them, it is.
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As the latter example suggests, the idea of “codependency” is a subset of pathological altruism. “Feelings of empathic caring . . . appear to lie at the core of . . . codependent behavior,” Oakley notes. People in codependent relationships genuinely care for each other, but that empathy leads them to do destructive things.
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online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324688404578545523824389986.html

This strikes me as an interesting and useful concept.

First, there is the recognition that altruism can be pathological. This will not sit confortably with those who believe that by following their heart they can do no wrong but it should come as no shock to Catholics that there is more to doing good than meaning good.

Second, it draws out the codpedency relationship between the actor and the “helper”. What does the “helper” get? I’ll leave that left unsaid. But it might be worth reflecting how often our “help” ends up hurting those we aim to help and what moral culpability we bear in those situations.

The article is more about hte debate within science but this is an interesting moral topic. It should go without saying that you cannot achieve social justice by practicing pathological altruism.
 
I often wonder about altruism, altogether. Let’s be rational (rather than emotional or spiritual) for one moment: an altruistic act somehow “repays” the actor. I have helped many people, even total strangers, by giving them money (and I’m far from rich). I “feel” as if God has put them in my path for a reason and so I act on that “feeling”. But, rationally, I am being repaid by pleasing God, am I not?

So: Is there such a thing as altruism?

And: what is a “Zen Catholic”?
 
It’s really the simplest idea around—pathological altruism is merely altruism in which attempts to promote the welfare of others instead result in unanticipated harm. Altruism, in other words, isn’t an unmitigated good. In fact, it can have horrific consequences. The old adage “the road to hell is paved with good intentions” is all too true. What the concept of pathological altruism does is to put the aphorism’s essence onto scientific footing, so we can examine it more carefully and truly understand its effects.
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fee.org/the_freeman/detail/giving-till-it-hurts-an-interview-with-barbara-oakley
 
Bubba,
So true! Here’s a quote as to why it can be destructive:

C S Lewis, God in the Dock: “Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the ‘good’ of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.”
 
Bubba_Switzler said:
fee.org/the_freeman/detail/giving-till-it-hurts-an-interview-with-barbara-oakley
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I think an article like this points out the *need *for a strong, balanced, moral code and for an ability to judge *actions. *I imagine this is all related to wisdom and prudence…

But those who do not have a strong balanced moral code and the ability to judge the actions of others are going to be overwhelmed by their untempered feelings of empathy for another, and a lack of ability to discern the difference between helping someone to do good or helping them to do something bad.
 
St_Francis said:
I think an article like this points out the *need *for a strong, balanced, moral code and for an ability to judge *actions. *I imagine this is all related to wisdom and prudence…

But those who do not have a strong balanced moral code and the ability to judge the actions of others are going to be overwhelmed by their untempered feelings of empathy for another, and a lack of ability to discern the difference between helping someone to do good or helping them to do something bad.
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Absolutely. It may at first appear that the she is criticising organized religion with it’s focus on doing good but in fact she is making a very strong indictment of secularism’s alternative feelings-based approach.
 
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