Anonymous Altruism
July 6, 2007 by rivalarrival
We reap what we sow, right? Then why are we not sharing our bounty with our fellow man?
We complain that the world is filled with evil. Is it really?
There is another problem in this world, and it has nothing to do with evil people, or even bad acts. It has everything to do with good people refusing to brag.
There is NO good reason why we shouldn’t be proud of our accomplishments. There is NO good reason why we shouldn’t demonstrate our commitment to better the world, to help people. And yet, too often we feel compelled to hide our altruism behind an impenetrable cloak of secrecy.
A person commented to one of my previous posts:
“I’ve come to believe that real altruism can only be anonymous. This is not to say I avoid helping people if I might get credit; I always try to help, but I actively evade credit whenever I can. I do not tell others about altruistic acts unless there is a compelling reason to do so.
I confess this only anonymously, as to do so in an identifiable way would run counter to my values.
I would ask others to try this. Slip money into the charity box when you know no one is looking. Give up your seat on the bus before the pregnant woman sees you do it. In other words, help people in such a way that they will never know what you did.
I do this to convince myself that I am a good person; that I don’t do these things for pride or standing.”
I offer two situations:
1. Pregnant woman gets on bus, sits down in first available seat. She didn’t see you get up, and you said not a word to her.
2. Pregnant woman gets on bus, you stand up and offer her your seat.
In one of these situations, you are the only person to witness the altruistic behavior. In the other, the entire bus witnesses it.
You have the opportunity to demonstrate the kind of behavior you expect from the 30 other people on that bus, and you refuse: Feeling good about your own behavior is enough for you.
Edmund Burke said “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” This world operates on appearances.It appears from news reports, (and even from this blog) that “evil, unethical people” are out to get us upstanding pinnacles of morality.
My military supervisor taught me another phrase: “If you don’t write it down, it never happened” He was talking about the necessity of documenting your work. If your work wasn’t documented, the people around you might not know that you’ve done it.
Think about that. When you see someone else graciously offer their seat to that pregnant woman, are you not reminded that there are nice people in the world? Does it not reassure you that human kindness is not dead? Are you reminded to go out of your way to help other people? What of the person who stands up and walks away as the woman gets on? Do you even notice him?
Good men appearing to do nothing gives the appearance of evil flourishing.
I’m not suggesting that you take out ad space and brag incessantly about all the good things you are doing for the world. But please, for the sake of your fellow man, don’t actively hide your contributions just because you are afraid of showing pride, afraid other people will consider you a braggart or brown-noser.
Pay it. Pay it not just forward to your beneficiary, but to society. Give the people around you something to feel good about. Refresh their faith in humanity, and better than even money says they will do the same. Your slight embarrassment in being recognized for a good deed is a tax you just have to pay if you want to live in a pleasant society.
And it will go a hell of a lot farther than the tax on your paycheck.
As a rc we consider two natures the physical and the spiritual.The natural and the supernatural.The latter being the higher of the two.There indeed is nothing wrong of taking pride in what you do but must give recognition to the being that sourced it?It is always edifying to see good example but more meritorious to accept the fact you did not act on your own to grace the oppotunity of an act of mercy towards your neighbor but by your free will consented to the act making it a team effort.As for stifling away your good actions is in itself an act of heroism due to the fact,given fallen human nature which inclines as to seek human respect and glory that is reserved and dued to God.Meaning admitting to something we don’t possess an independent source of goodness!We are all dependent on God whether we believe it or not whether we want it or not whether we like it or not!It is much like the inscription on the cross of Our Lord…INRI[Jesus of Nazareth King of the jews].A symbolic meaning the jews(world)hated him chanted for his death and did everything within there resources to frame him silence him and lied to force a verdict and humiliate him but at the end of the day whether you like it or not,whether you believe it or not,wether you want it or not He is still your KING! INRI…
[Reply]
I can’t speak for everyone, but I help other people for two reasons: 1. It makes me feel good. 2. It makes the world a better place.
What I don’t do is assume that there is an omnipotent super-being who’s express purpose is to share my goals.
[Reply]
I help others because I believe pandeism to be true. God became the universe, and exists as the universe in order to experience through us. In the end we will all return to God, and share in all the experiences of humankind. So, if I do something good for you now, I will experience that in the future. That is pandeism in a nutshell.
[Reply]
Cal-trek,
The system you describe is a property of most philosophical systems. Tit-for-Tat. Karma. The “Golden Rule” and its logical successor, the “Platinum Rule”
While it may be indicative of pandeism, it is by no means exclusive to that system.
[Reply]
Granted, it is non-exclusive to pandeism, but I believe that the formulation of the rule in pandeism is more logical than the idea that a God-figure sits in judgment on our actions and either blesses us to an eternal heaven or bans us to an eternal hell. In some strains of pandeism, your heaven or hell is (in returning to oneness) simply experiencing for yourself whatever good or bad feelings you brought to others, as though they were experienced by yourself directly.
[Reply]
Cal-Trek,
As you have described it, pandeism appears indistinguishable from the atheistic viewpoint.
Without god at all, the same “karmic” philosophy holds true. Being nice to others, one can expect others to be nice to you.
Without god at all, the same “personal heaven/hell” in the form of your own feelings still holds true. (whether you were speaking of empathy or a “karmic” retribution)
I agree with your philosophy as you have stated it, but I fail to see how it differs from Atheism.
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