Every person at least once in his life asked himself what a good deed, a good deed consists of. Of course, here you can answer in different ways, but all people understand that a good deed is an act in the interests of another person. In this article we will analyze only two possible fundamental foundations of good deeds: altruism and egoism. Let's start with the less obvious and noble, with selfishness.
Selfishness as the basis for good deeds
It would seem a paradox and an absurdity, but in most cases this is precisely so. There is an indicative story in this sense, almost a parable, but it happened with a real historical figure - Abraham Lincoln.
Once, Lincoln was riding in a carriage with one official, and they argued about the basis of moral behavior. The official argued that altruism was the foundation of everything, and Lincoln was sure that selfishness was.
Life argued the debaters: the carriage was traveling across the river over the bridge, and suddenly the American president saw that the pig was stuck in the mud on the river bank, not far from the water, that is, it was in danger. It was raining. Lincoln, right in his suit, jumped out in the rain and saved the pig by pulling it out of the mud and dragging the animal to a safe place. In a spoiled suit, but the happy Lincoln returned to the carriage. The official told him that he had just refuted his own opinion. "Why?" - the American president was surprised. “Well then, you saved the pig, but there’s no benefit to you!” - said the official. “On the contrary, if I had not saved her, I could never have forgiven myself for this,” retorted Lincoln.
So think after this, what is a good deed, a good deed.
Suppose when millionaires donate part of their capital to sick children, how can this be regarded? And if cameras are also taking pictures of them, do they write about them in the newspapers? Is this a PR or a good deed?
And even if no one knows about the donations of the rich man, maybe he is tormented by his conscience, or he takes away his sins? How selfless is all this?
It is always interesting in this sense to think about what a good deed consists of, a good deed in a single, specific case.
Altruism encourages holy and fairy-tale heroes to do good deeds
Only saints and fairy-tale heroes are capable of good deeds and actions from pure, unclouded altruism. And there is nothing offensive to an ordinary citizen, which is, for example, a millionaire, since a saint is already one who has overcome the vices of human nature and has come close to the humanistic ideal. The most striking example in this sense, of course, is Jesus Christ. If we turn to recent history, then this is the mother of Teresa or Mahatma Gandhi. They served the people wholeheartedly.
When the majority thinks of these heroes - the cultural phenomena of world history, the question does not arise of what a good deed consists of, a good deed, as the answer suggests itself: self-sacrifice for the happiness and health of others.
In the film by Alexander Rowe “Frost” based on the Russian folk tale, there is also an example of a completely disinterested act, when Ivan, turned into a bear, decided to take the old woman to her stick. The hero, without a “second thought”, decided to do a good deed, and this is exactly what the old borovichok demanded of him, who turned the narcissistic young man into a bear.
In other words, parables and tales insist that a good deed or a good deed is possible only when a person renounces individual, personal needs and thinks only about the well-being and happiness, convenience of another person. Wonderful ideal, isn't it?
But if we turn to our mournful affairs, it turns out that it is not so important from what source the good receives fuel (altruism or egoism). The main thing is that it grows stronger and stronger. And people did not forget that, besides them, there are unfortunate and sick people in the world who really need help.