In popular speech, a willingness to sacrifice one’s own interests for those of others. It is this sense that is relevant to discussions of, for example, the evolutionary origins and role of altruism in animals.
Philosophically, altruism is rather a view about what one ought to do, and contrasts with egoism and universalism.
It is a form of consequentialism and prescribes that one should act so as to maximize the happiness or welfare of people (or possibly living creatures) in general, oneself alone excluded. Only these last three words distinguish altruism from universalism or utilitarianism, and in principle it has varieties corresponding to the varieties of these, and is open to many of the same objections.
It also faces objections which mirror some of those facing egoism; for example, to what extent it is really practicable.
Table of Contents
- 1 Videos
- 2 Related Products
- 2.1 Altruism: The Power of Compassion to Change Yourself and the World
- 2.2 The Altruism Revolution
- 2.3 Stationary
- 2.4 Does Altruism Exist?: Culture, Genes, and the Welfare of Others (Foundational Questions in Science)
- 2.5 The Most Good You Can Do: How Effective Altruism Is Changing Ideas About Living Ethically
- 2.6 The Do Gooders
- 2.7 Doing Good Better: How Effective Altruism Can Help You Help Others, Do Work that Matters, and Make Smarter Choices about Giving Back
- 2.8 Moral Origins: The Evolution of Virtue, Altruism, and Shame
- 2.9 The Altruism Revolution
- 2.10 Survival of the Nicest: How Altruism Made Us Human and Why It Pays to Get Along
Videos
Altruism: The Power of Compassion to Change Yourself and the World
- Back Bay Books
- Ricard, Matthieu (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 864 Pages - 06/14/2016 (Publication Date) - Back Bay Books (Publisher)
The Altruism Revolution
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- SYLVIE GILMAN (Director) - JEAN-PIERRE DEVORSINE (Producer)
- English (Playback Language)
- English (Subtitle)
Stationary
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- Gary Arber (Actor)
- Sebastian Whyte (Director) - Sebastian Whyte (Producer)
- English (Playback Language)
- English (Subtitle)
Does Altruism Exist?: Culture, Genes, and the Welfare of Others (Foundational Questions in Science)
- Hardcover Book
- Wilson, David Sloan (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 192 Pages - 01/13/2015 (Publication Date) - Yale University Press (Publisher)
The Most Good You Can Do: How Effective Altruism Is Changing Ideas About Living Ethically
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Singer, Peter (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 228 Pages - 04/07/2015 (Publication Date) - Yale University Press (Publisher)
The Do Gooders
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- Chloe Ruthvens (Director)
- English (Playback Language)
- English (Subtitle)
Doing Good Better: How Effective Altruism Can Help You Help Others, Do Work that Matters, and Make Smarter Choices about Giving Back
- Avery Publishing Group
- MacAskill, William (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 272 Pages - 08/02/2016 (Publication Date) - Avery (Publisher)
Moral Origins: The Evolution of Virtue, Altruism, and Shame
- Basic Books AZ
- Hardcover Book
- Boehm, Christopher (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 432 Pages - 05/01/2012 (Publication Date) - Basic Books (Publisher)
The Altruism Revolution
- Matthieu Ricard (Actor)
- Sylvie Gilman (Director)
- Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Survival of the Nicest: How Altruism Made Us Human and Why It Pays to Get Along
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Klein, Stefan (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 272 Pages - 01/21/2014 (Publication Date) - The Experiment (Publisher)
Last update 2020-03-31. Price and product availability may change.