There is an idea of altruistic behavior. This means that an organism may do a kind deed or selfless act with the expectation of getting nothing in return. As optimistic as I believe I am I do not think it is possible to perform an act of kindness without expecting something. Can true altruism exist? Give your opinion.
I think being kind is a big thing because usually being kind is being nice and not curly to others and could be a reward for the act of kindness.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that true altruistic behavior can exist. We as humans usualy only do something to get something in return. That is the way it has been for a very long time and I don't see it changing anytime soon. We have figured out that helping someone out and making them happy usally means that in return you get something back, and then you have a chain going. (I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine)
ReplyDeleteI think that selfless kind acts never really did exist because we are just so selfish and always have been. If we want something we get it almost evry time or eventually over time. But for certain organisms with simplar lives it could exist because they are too simple to ask for much anyways. As for us ...never have never will.
ReplyDeleteI believe it can exist. There has been plenty more times than i can remember where i have done something for someone and not expected anything in return. I have pulled random people out who have been stuck in the mud and done lots of work for free and i have helped and stuck my neck out for plenty of friends and never asked for anything back.
ReplyDeleteYes i think it can exist, but it also depends on the situation or who the person is becuase if it were me i would do something nice for my friends or someone else and expect nothing. But if that person always asks me to do something for them all the time everyday then ill start to expect something in return..
ReplyDeleteTrue alturism has no existence, think about it; if you do something physically for someone else don't you still receive the satisfaction of a job well done? No matter what, people have always done things for a purpose; at times the purpose is not clear but eventually we inderstand what we did and why.
ReplyDeleteI believe altruistic behavior exist because I will help someone out without expecting anything in return. There has been a lot of instances where I will help one of my friends and never ask for anything in return.
ReplyDeleteYes i do belive altruism exists in certain organism, such as humans, we (not all) as people help others all the time, food banks, charity and all other sorts of kindness even if its just helping someone who needs a jump for there car. you don't just automatically assume your gonna get a reward your doing it out of an act of kindness. But animals i belive do something to get something in return..
ReplyDeleteDj Calarruda Period 1 =O
I believe that true altruism does exist in people. People in communities sometimes come together and help out, and there are charities, and churches that prove acts of kindness do exist because they dont ask for anything in return.
ReplyDeleteVanessa Holguin, pd.1
I believe altruistic behavior exists.
ReplyDeleteMr. Olsen, if one of your kids was about to die, would you not gladly take their place so that THEY could go on living? Being a scientist I'm guessing that you are not religious so you know that there is no reward in death, your just dead. You could say that for that small moment that you are taking their place in death, that that knowledge that your children are safe is the reward, but is that why your doing it; or are you saving them, for them?
I would say alturism does not exist. Even if you don't think about it everytime you do something for someone, unconciously, you expect something in return. For example when little kids are nice they expect you to be nice back,when you smile at someone you dont expect them to flip you off.Even when doing what seems like a selfless deed it might make you feel better which then again your doing something for yourself.
ReplyDeleteI think that it can exist, it mainly has to do on how you were raised. There are alot of people that do things for others but only so that they can get something in return. But there are also people that are kindly hearted and dont ever expect anything. I think that the people that do simple acts of kindness and dont expect anything are the ones that were raised good or something in their lives happened and changed their perspective in life.
ReplyDelete-Alex Ramirez
Yes i believe that it can exist. Not only through small acts, but big ones as well. On September 11, 2001 another plane was hijacked and heading for the White House and some brave people new they were going to die either way, so they fought against those terrorists and saved so many people. I'll bet that while they were doing that, they weren't just thinking they would have statues or something like that made in their honor. They did it because it was the right thing.
ReplyDeleteI believe people sometimes do things for others without asking for any thing in return. But there are variables involved like how much you like that person, or if you have been in a similar situation. I also think it depends on the kind of person, some people are selfish and some are generous.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe true altruism exists. We always have a purpose behind any act of kindness we do. An acknowledgment is usually expected whether it be a smile, a thank you, or something else. Sometimes we expect people to reciprocate our acts of kindness. Perhaps doing a nice deed will result in having good karma. From a religious point of view: "I've done numerous good deeds today. Maybe God will help me out." The Golden Rule: "Treat others the way you wish to be treated." Sometimes one will help someone out because he or she loves this person and wishes to have that person love him or her back.
ReplyDeleteWe always have a reason behind what we do.
I think it can exist. It is rare in our society today, but there are those few people that don't expect to get something in return. It does take a truly selfless person to do this, and there aren't many of them around.
ReplyDeletei believe it does exist but in very few people. it also would depend on the deed being done. if the deed is very significant and cost a lot or is hard to do than not a lot of people would do it for free. so its all based on the person and the deed.
ReplyDeleteONELOVE
I do not believe altruistic behavior exists. I think everyone wants something in return for the good deeds they do. They might not want it from the person they are doing the kind deed for but they do expect something in return one way or another.
ReplyDeleteI believe it can exist in certain situations where some people think the right thing to do is to be kind to someone or something and don't expect to be rewarded, they just feel that if they do that they are rewarded in their heart.
ReplyDeleteI don't think altruistic behavior could exist. People selfish or not, will always try to compensate some reward for their deeds. Whether it be a huge thing, or something as simple as a thank you. Altruistic behavior plays a part in the whole idea of karma and different religions. So either way people will always, even with trying not to, will expect rewards.
ReplyDeleteHmmm... NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER has there been an act of kindness that didnt result in someone asking the question, "so whats the reward for this?" if your own grandmother was drowning and you were her only hope, you wouldnt save her unless you knew she would bake you those amazing grandma cookies you love so much. so in the end its no reward. no help. and its not just us, the self centered humans. Altruistic behavior is pretty much a no no in all species.
ReplyDeleteLaiken Coulter
ReplyDeleteper 7
I don't think it exists. So people use the example of saving someones life, if your saving a persons life in a situation like being a paramedic, your getting payed for it. If you were to jump in and save a relative or friends life well sure you don't want them to die, but there are selfish reasons behind it. You don't want to have to go through losing them, it would hurt YOU. We get something out of evry act of kindness we make, even though we may not realize it.
I think it does exist. No matter what you do you do for a reason. For just being kind or to satisfy yourself. Think about it, you have never done something that didnt have a reason to it. Even a small thing that maybe you jmust dont realize.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that it does exist. I don't think anything can be a sefless act. Whenever someone does a kind thing for someone, even if it is something that the person would hate or something, they would at least get joy from helping somebody else.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of the Friends episode all about this.
I think that is doesn't exist. Because deep down everyone usually expects something back for doing an act of kindness.
ReplyDeleteI believe that it cannot exist in reality, if only for the fact that, though someone may not EXPECT anything in return, everyone WISHES or WANTS something in return for a good deed. Even if someone insists that they do it out of the goodness of their heart they still would like something in return.
ReplyDeletei dont believe in complete altruism because when someone does something for someone no matter how nice it may be they are still expecting a thank you or maybe some kind of satisfaction from this deed.
ReplyDeleteI think being kind is very important because its a part of the Act of Kindness...
ReplyDeleteJulio Barajas, Period 1
I believe it does not exist. You do things for a reason, sometimes just to satisfy yourself or even just get something as small as a smile in return. When someone does a kind deed they are disappointed when nobody acknowledges that they did it, even if it is deep down and they dont think about it.
ReplyDeleteI think when talking about human nature, sometimes it does not exist and sometimes it does. Usually when kind people do nice things they look for a reaction or response out of what they're are doing, though it may not be a reward, but praise of some kind. Unless you have a truly genuine person that naturally does good things.
ReplyDeleteI don't think true altruism exist. because when a person does a selfless act they always recieve something in return even if they don't know it at the time.
ReplyDeleteshareen zuspan per 7 umm yes i do think people do things without wantin to get anythin back. its called good hearted people some jus wanna do it because they care. jesus did lol.
ReplyDeleteLucky I remembered to post! I think it can exist. But most people only do things if they are rewarded at the end. Like I'm pretty sure superman wouldn't risk his life saving people of he didn't get the publicity by doing it. So even some of the people we look up to are selfish and are only doing things to get rewarded or recognized for what they do. If that makes sense it sounded better in my head!
ReplyDeleteoops forgot to post. I think that altruistic behavoir exists, just not in every day life.we are too selfish not to want something in return. In some extreme situations like in war I believe it exists. Landing on a grenade to save your fellow soldier's life I believe is selfless.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to post..
ReplyDeleteI think that a lot of times people can be considerate and help others. Personally look at jobs, you are being nice to people and saving lives or helping people, but you're getting paid for it. Doctors don't take and spend all that money to go to college and then just do it for free. Many people and doctors I do have gone and helped people in third world countries and I think that helps a lot and thats an act of kindness. It happens, just not often.
I believe that it is of course possible for a human to do a selfess act and expect nothing at all in return. However I believe that it is indeed extremely rare, and will only be seen in the nicest and kindest of hearted people which make our everyday heros.
ReplyDeleteYes, i do think it can exist, but there is consequences when i believe it can not exist to. it really just depends on who you are dealing with. some people may think you should give in return, and some people think you shouldn't, so it really does depend on which people you are dealing with.
ReplyDeleteI think that if you go by all the over analyzing we did in class today, you can find any way to prove the motive behind a good deed. But if you don't try to find the fault in someone's selfless deed, they can be selfless. Yes, maybe some are instinctual. The person doing it wouldn't know that it was instinctual though. They would just do it and not think about what would happen after. To them, it's not about bettering their race. It's just what's right.
ReplyDeleteto me altruistic behavior does not happen very often. In fact i think it never happens. you may do something out of the kindness of your heart but in the end dont u always want a thank you or some kind of recognition that you actually did do something good. if you are religious wouldnt you do stuff to please your god so you could go to heaven you might not wont recognition from the people you helped but you would want it from god
ReplyDelete-Ashley Cline
I think it can happen sometimes but now a days people do things for something in return. There is not many selfless acts of kindness that happen but when it does happen it is a special thing.
ReplyDeleteAltruism is a very difficult subject, especially in deciding whether or not it exists. I do believe it exists, in very rare and corageous forms. Such as if you give your life for your spouse, you do have the satisfaction of knowing that your spouse is still alive, but whose to say you will get to enjoy that satisfaction? Plus, this satisfaction definately does NOT outweigh the cost of losing your whole life. Other than this example, and probably a few others, I do not think there is a true form of altruism.
ReplyDeletei think that it can exist only because look at the acts of 9/11 the firemen, police, and the people who took their lives to die for their coutry died/helped knowing it was a deathly situation and there was going to be a bad outcome. i do think though that for it to be truely altruistic the person or animal must act just on their first instinct though, because if they sit and think about it then they become selfish in a way because they start to think well wait a minute. i do believe true altruism exists though.
ReplyDeleteI think altruism does exist, and happens quite a bit. Even if sacrificing your life for you kids is an instinct so you can pass on your genes, you don't know that. I think that thought would not cross your brain before you acted to save his/her life. The reason you would die for them is so they can live, and thats it
ReplyDelete-Sam Adkisson
I can see both points only too clearly, On the one hand i understand as human beings we all get an physical "high" from doing something good or right. But on the other hand people who are willing to dies for their spouse... I don't see how that is thinking of yourself. I cant seem to decide whether i believe in true altruism or not, but this topic has definitely got me thinking.
ReplyDeleteI personally don't believe an act of altruism is possible. No matter what, when you do anything kind, even the sacrifice of one's own life, you get an intrinsic reward. Is there anything wrong with that? I don't think so. I think it's wonderful that we get a natural reward for being kind and helping others. It certainly is good motivation.
ReplyDeleteI think that it depends on the person and the deed. I think that people can do things for people and not want anything in return but i also think that no matter the deed is you always get something in return.
ReplyDeleteCarena Lyons Period 4
I think it is possible for you to do a deed and not expect something in return, but that doesn't mean that you don't receive something. I think even doing something like a firefighter and saving someone you still feel good and receive a rewarding feeling.
ReplyDeleteI think it is possible for someone to do something and not get anything in return.. I do things and I usually don't get anything in return. So yeah!
ReplyDeleteI believe that someone can do something for someone without exspecting something in return. Doing a kind deed for someone gives us a feeling of being helpful, even though this is getting something back I believe it counts as an altruistic behavior.
ReplyDeleteSierra Jamison per. 1
No, I do not believe an act of TRUE altruism is possible. No matter what there is a voice in the back of your head telling you what will happen. It's not our fault, it's just human nature. People bring up the point time and time again, well I would die for this person, but would you really? Some I know would but it isn't without reward. If you died in battle saving peoples lives you become a "hero" and are remembered foreve, if you die for your son or daughter, or even your significant other, it is rewarded in the passing on of your genes or knowing that you would leave a lasting impact on people.
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying acts of altruism aren't possible, just true altruism where you don't have reward for it in mind. People do "random acts of kindness" everyday. Even something as simple as holding the door open for someone, or even smiling at them. I am also not saying that we are bad people because we always somehow expect a reward, as I mentioned before, it's just human nature.
i believe that it possibly could exist but most the time when people do something to help someone they are always wanting at least a thank you. they may not want a reward like money or anything but they are always expecting to get a thank you out of it. i dont know if it could exist out in the wild though. i have never heard of an animal helping another one just because
ReplyDeleteI belive that altruism is possible.A good act without an ounce of selfish motivation is quite possible.a good act can be defind as an act that is beneficial to someone other that yourself.
ReplyDeletei believe that a selfless act is conceivable for the mere fact that there are good people in our world that dont always expect something in return. if someone you loved was bitten by a snake and you had to do something quickly there is no doubt in my head that i would suck the poison out even though i may kill myself in the process, and i would not expect anything in return. its just doing whats right. i couldnt live with myself knowing someone died because i was too afraid to take a chance and save them.i would do it, and there is no way i would be expecting anything expecially in that instance in which it happen.
ReplyDeletecoleton blair said....
ReplyDeletei think that a selfless act is committed by a unsepecting person ....sometimes it may be that they are good person deep down and others it may be a total accident...but in this case i dont belive there is due to the fact that if a animal warns that there is a predator it could want them to do the same thing for him/her.
I do not believe true altruism exists. I mean everyone is always expecting something after doing something. It could be the smallest act of kindness and that person would probably go and tell people what they did, just to hear "good job" or "I admire you". It's not a bad thing that we want to hear these things, a lot of us are just used to doing things and at least hearing thank you afterwards.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe it just because even if we don't think about it there is something in our minds telling us to do it. So like for example, a child is playing on the sidewalk and his/her ball goes into the street and they go to get it. A car comes speeding out of nowhere and it won't be able to stop before hitting the child and you're standing there. As an Adult you would go and try to save the kid even if you don't know him/her. Why? Because something in your brain is telling you that even though its not your genes that need to be protected it's someones. So yeah, it's not your fault true altruism doesn't exist, it's your brain.
ReplyDeleteI believe that us as humans have adapted and believe that we can't live without a benefit to ourselves for helping. We have become selfish and always want something in return for. a good act
ReplyDeleteAs much as I believe that we all have good in us, I concur with what Mr olden says. When I get into depth about thinking of why you do something there is always something it for you. Even if you do it because it makes you feel good that's not true altruism
ReplyDeleteI believe that true altruism does not exist. Every time someone does something for someone, if you really think about it there is always something in it for the other person.
ReplyDeleteI believe that when someone performs a good deed for another person, there is always an alternate motive. Whether we are aware of it or not, there is one there, if it is bragging rights, or expecting something from that person in return, there is something there. Even if you don't tell other people you did it, in your own mind you know that you did something good, and you feel good about it. Therefore it is not just for being good because you get something out of it.
ReplyDeleteI believe that in most cases people do something for their own benefit. But in rare cases there are true forms of selfless giving. You might make a donation because you feel bad for somebody and you want to help them. The way you feel when you help someone makes you feel good about yourself but even without that feeling it would still be selfless. I think that many people like helping a good cause even if it isn't a direct benefit for them. So i do believe that true alterism does exist.
ReplyDeleteI believe you can do something to help someone without getting anything in return, its always good to help those who need it and not expect anything in return, but just by helping them and making them better is would make me happy. (:
ReplyDelete-Jessica Mata.
Altruism cannot be possible in humanity. The most common arguement that it is states that someone will do something for no physical compensation, such as help a nieghbor with yardwork, or jumpstart somebody's car, or even hold the door. The truth in my eyes is, doing something for free causes a psychological pleasure. Wheather its an alieviation of boredum, or a clearing of karma related conscience, or just a feel-good sensation at being a decent person. If one looks back on the most noble situation to date in their life, even then there was a compensation sought after, if only a psycological one. Altruism isn't natural. It truely doesn't exist anywhere.
ReplyDeletei think altruism does exist. People do things without wanting things in return. When someone goes to a homeless shelter and serve them thanksgiving dinner, they usually don't expect something in return. Some people argue that getting a feeling of satisfaction is getting something in return. I think getting something in return is a materialistic thing, not a good feeling.
ReplyDeleteselena merhoff
THANKS!
ReplyDeleteThis was one of the weaker pages in concept. I simply didn't want to draw the kitchen in the background. So it is mostly darkness.
The previous page turned out pretty weak too, but in concept it was much better. It just didn't turn out perfect. Still, I'm liking it.