Selfish vs. Altruistism

Can a person be selfish and altruistic?  I would argue that you can.  My definition allows for a little bit of flexibility.  A person can be altruistic if they hardy gain anything from helping another person.  A person might help someone because they want to help or they desire to be altruistic.  These may be selfish wants, but what really does a person gain compared to the person in need of help?  So long as the person has the desire to help people and isn’t solely motivated by selfish desires, then the action can be altruistic and a little bit selfish. Of course, a person can only be so selfish and still considered to be altruistic.

Altruistic acts and Acts of Supererogation

I have already defined an act to be altruistic if it done mainly to help others at little or no benefit to the helping person, and goes above a certain call of duty or expectation.  To perform an act of  supererogation is like to perform an act of heroism.  The main difference between the two (altruistic and  supererogation) is degree.  It would be altruistic to donate an additional twenty dollars to a charity.   Supererogation might call for hundreds or thousands of dollars.  Usually an act of  supererogation would involve great risk of physical harm.  Such acts are often done with thinking, just enough thought process to decide to do it.  Taking the risk to save someone from an oncoming train is heroic, and altruistic.  Helping the person get back up on the platform is altruistic, but not heroic.   

Q&A: Who is more altrustic, Rambert or Rieux?

Contrary to what Hounchin writes, I believe that Rieux is actually the more altruistic of the two men in the book, The Plague.  Rieux goes out of his way to help the many people who are affected by the disease in the city.  Rambert on the other hand is not altruistic, least not in my definition.  Rambert appears to help the poor citizens since he does not want to look like the healthy man who isn't helping.  He is made uncomfortable by his position so he helps the sick, though he would rather leave the city if he could. Rambert isn't doing this to help people, just so he can help people.  A true altruistic person, like Rieux, would help people for the sake of helping people and isn't all that too concerned with himself.   

Q&A: The Dark Side of Altruistism

Does the altruistic acts of a kind-hearted person with good intentions have unintended misgivings?  Suppose a caring individual sees a hungry homeless man on the streets.  In order to help this struggling man, the caring individual gives the man a sandwich so he won’t go hungry that day.  This simple act may have helped me today but what will he do for food the next day?  Will the same caring individual be there tomorrow with another sandwich?  Soon the man might become dependent upon others for food on a daily basis.  The homeless man will find no self-improvement as the caring individual continues to increase his happiness for ‘helping’ people.