Debate - Why do we help others?

Discussion in 'Philosophy' started by A87, Nov 28, 2015.

  1. #1 A87, Nov 28, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 28, 2015
    In my mind, there are two possibilities why we help/do good things for others (aka giving to others). Examples could be anything from volunteering, donating, doing a favor for someone, a courageous act, etc.


    Basically,
    A ) Because helping other people is good, and we care about the needs of others, beyond our own well-being.
    B ) Doing things to help others makes one feel good, which is the real purpose. In a way, then, helping others may be sort of a selfish act, in that the helper is truly seeking the internal reward of good feelings, and helping others is simply the vessel by which to achieve the good feeling for oneself.


    I would like to think A is true, but I think B is closer to reality. It's about people's inner motivations IMO. Thoughts?
     
  2. You answered your own question!
     
  3. Because if we needed help, it would be nice if someone helped us, so in the spirit of mutualism we should all just help eachother.

    -Yuri
     
  4. because we're all one
     
  5. We evolved that way. Our ancestors found it advantageous
    to cooperate with each other. It caught on and soon everyone,
    or nearly so, started doing it.


    We are the worlds most cooperative ape. The simple fact
    that a hundred people of mating age can all sit in an auditorium
    and not be beating each other senseless is testament to that fact.

     
  6. Everybody is supposed to be able to help each other and get along, although greed and power have flipped that idea on its head.


     
  7. As observed in animals, solidarity and collaboration is better for the vast majority of species. It helps with raising children, gathering nutrients, and with general defense. Solidarity appears to be built into most species whether by natural design or its sheer utilitarian value when trying to make it in life. Let's not forget, life was incredibly difficult up until only recently and only in the 1st world.

    In addition, most of us do actually need others emotionally. Perhaps some people are islands unto themselves, but certainly most are not. As such, if we do need others in our lives, it is probably better if they are not suffering themselves. We care about how they fare because they are so close to our own life. Their well being is in our best interest.


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  8. Helping in itself is an act that enables one person to reach out to another. Providing care to others is one way of a release of stored energy that can be transferred to the next person in the way that good vibes resonate with the air. Feeling good is contagious and with the human being if we all feel good then we all help each other out.
     
  9. Treat others as you would like to be treated.
     
  10. C ) We are animals and animals always look out for those they associate with. In its most primitive form.. it's a means of survival. You want your associates to be healthy, that's why you see a lot of grooming in wild animals. It's one of those things where the greater good is good for you too.

    That's why B is kind of true too. We, and others animals, evolved with social mimicry. Physically, our brain will mimic the emotions of others. You see someone smile and there are neurons firing off in your brain that run similar to the neurons that would fire if you were the one smiling.. even if you're not smiling. Pretty much any action from another human you focus on gets mimicked in your brain. Focus on someone doing jumping jacks and mimicking neurons fire off that are of your subconscious imaging you doing jumping jacks.

    Obviously that doesn't apply 100% of the time.. we can also assign emotions to pretty much anything we want. So for some, they feel happy not just from their brain mimicking others, but from actually helping others. So A would be true too. Very few things in life are black and white.
     
  11. I think a better quote is:

    Treat others how THEY want to be treated.

    Someone might not want to be treated how you'd like to be treated.
     
  12. You nailed it. :)
     
  13. touche... that's great. It's true especially in a business environment. tailor your approach to your customer's needs instead of presenting them with your "mold" of what you think they need. ask the question.

    bravo

     
  14. There isnt one answer. It could be out of a sense of duty, it could be because you seek to be needed, to make yourself feel like youre worth something, ect.

    Some people feel terrible about the state of the world, and have internal conflict about how they live their life, so they help people to put their mind at ease. General feelings of empathy.

    Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk
     
  15. i think its both. Naturally feeling bad for somebody and hoping for their own well bring.also if u dont feel good helping somebody, then how do u feel?i will feel bad if i sont help
     
  16. I dislike this answer.

    Mutualism may be in our genes but we still act out of empathy even when it doesn't benefit us in the long run. Why?. Evolution? No.

    We are above that now.

    We know that if we were weak, that Wed like to be helped by the strong. So if were are strong, we help the weak, even though we are strong and don't need the weak.

    It is true empathy not rooted in mete mutualism

    -Yuri
     
  17. Feels good to be in the position of having the power to help another. I'm not sure how often helping another person is an act of altruism.

     
  18. Deep down rather you like it or not we are all connected. So when we see some one struggle, we tend to feel symphony because we understand and know the feeling of wanting help...

    It's also a universals habit, I mean look at how the earth works, bees help plants, plants help with food, shelter and medicine. The sun helps living organism and plants, water also helps. Nature is simply created by everything contributing to the cycle of helping each other.

    When we help someone out, were consciously knowing that we are doing something right.
     
  19. As animals we can feel one another. I agree with op on mutualism.
     

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