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Definition:
Altruism is an aspect of moral philosophy in which it is argued that moral decisions
should be based upon the interests or well-being of others rather than on
self-interest. This basis can range from only taking the interests of others into
consideration to simply taking them into account a little bit.
Many who adopt the ethical philosophy of egoism argue that altruism isn't even possible and that all of our actions are based upon self-interest. Usually, however, this argument is commits the fallacy of equivocation. The point is made that we only do things we want and which we are 'interested' in, but then it is concluded that these actions are therefore in our 'self-interest.' But the terms involved are not the same.
The question of altruism plays an important role in debates in the field of sociobiology. If it is true that social behavior is ultimately based upon biological facts (i.e., genetics), then altruism must also have a biological basis - but how can a creature pass along to progeny a propensity to sacrifice themselves for the interests of others rather than for their own self-interests? There are possible biological explanations, for example a biologically-based desire to serve the group. There is also the argument that not every social behavior must be solely based upon biological factors.
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Related Resources:
What are Ethics and Morality?
Ethics is the formal study of moral standards and conduct. For this reason, the study of ethics is also often called "moral philosophy." What is good? What is evil? How should I behave - and why? How should I balance my needs against the needs of others?What is Philosophy?
What is philosophy? Is there any point in studying philosophy, or is it a useless subject? What are the different branches of philosophy - what's the difference between aestheitcs and ethics? What's the difference between metaphysics and epistemology?
