Altruism

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines altruism as “unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others.” The term is derived from the French autre and the Latin alter, both meaning “other.” French sociologist Auguste Comte is credited with coining the term around 1850, though scholarly interest in what we now call altruism dates back at least to the ancient Greek philosophers. In moral philosophy, the major exponent was the eighteenth-century British writer and philosopher David Hume, who saw in human beings a natural ability to sympathize with others and to act on such sympathy through “benevolence and generosity” (Batson 1991, p. 30).

As described by the scholars C. Daniel Batson (1991) and Kristen Renwick Monroe (1996), altruism, in common usage, has at least three components. First, altruism implies either a motivation or an intent to enhance another's well-being. Thus, if a person enhances another's well-being without meaning to do so, that is not altruism; on the other hand, if a person intends to enhance another's welfare, but unintentionally diminishes it, he or she would still be considered altruistic. Second, altruism implies action; merely wishing someone well is not altruism. Third, altruism carries the risk of diminishing one's own welfare in the process of enhancing another's.

[Page 37]Although altruistic motivations cannot be directly observed, they can be inferred from observable acts. Such acts include returning a lost wallet to its owner, donating blood, volunteering for a charity, and helping a stranger in distress. Altruism can be planned or spontaneous; individual or groupbased; episodic or sustained; public or anonymous. Because it is presumed to be rare but desirable, most societies try to reinforce altruistic behavior, for example by providing “volunteer of the year” proclamations, tax deductions for charitable donations, and heroes' medals to those who risk their lives to save others.