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 Doing Good Better: How Effective Altruism Can Help You Help Others, Do Work that Matters, and Make Smarter Choices about Giving Back
- 2.4 Stationary
- 2.5 Pathological Altruism
- 2.6 The Do Gooders
- 2.7 Delusional Altruism: Why Philanthropists Fail To Achieve Change and What They Can Do To Transform Giving
- 2.8 The Price of Altruism: George Price and the Search for the Origins of Kindness
- 2.9 Ethics 101: From Altruism and Utilitarianism to Bioethics and Political Ethics, an Exploration of the Concepts of Right and Wrong (Adams 101)
- 2.10 Does Altruism Exist?: Culture, Genes, and the Welfare of Others (Foundational Questions in Science)
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)
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)
Stationary
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- Gary Arber (Actor)
- Sebastian Whyte (Director) - Sebastian Whyte (Producer)
- English (Playback Language)
- English (Subtitle)
Pathological Altruism
- Hardcover Book
- English (Publication Language)
- 496 Pages - 12/19/2011 (Publication Date) - Oxford University Press (Publisher)
The Do Gooders
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- Chloe Ruthvens (Director)
- English (Playback Language)
- English (Subtitle)
Delusional Altruism: Why Philanthropists Fail To Achieve Change and What They Can Do To Transform Giving
- Hardcover Book
- Putnam-Walkerly, Kris (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 256 Pages - 03/24/2020 (Publication Date) - Wiley (Publisher)
The Price of Altruism: George Price and the Search for the Origins of Kindness
- Harman, Oren (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 464 Pages - 06/20/2011 (Publication Date) - W. W. Norton & Company (Publisher)
Ethics 101: From Altruism and Utilitarianism to Bioethics and Political Ethics, an Exploration of the Concepts of Right and Wrong (Adams 101)
- Hardcover Book
- Boone, Brian (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 256 Pages - 11/07/2017 (Publication Date) - Adams Media (Publisher)
Does Altruism Exist?: Culture, Genes, and the Welfare of Others (Foundational Questions in Science)
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Wilson, David Sloan (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 191 Pages - 03/01/2015 (Publication Date) - Yale University Press (Publisher)
Last update 2020-06-17. Price and product availability may change.