This may be a sleep deprivation induced wondering...but is it selfish to not donate your blood? (of course if your health allows it)

If all people thought that way...those who did not have family or close friends who were able to donate and were the same blood type would just die...

@antisocialbutterfly Family or close friends aren't "just anybody".

that's what I am saying...if the family and close friends were not a blood type match the patient would die

@antisocialbutterfly Ahhh, I gotcha. Good thing people don't think that way, then.

I guess you were referring to the selfish part?

If someone does something for other people, it's to fluff their self-identity--or, because they are trying to avoid the pain of not doing it. Both ways, they're doing it, because they benefit.

I didn't mean, "No one ever does anything good."

Something can benefit someone, without it appearing like they gained anything.

Not everyone does good things to boast their ego or avoid guilt

@antisocialbutterfly Right. Or to avoid the pain of not doing a good thing.

that was why I said guilt

@antisocialbutterfly Okay. Why do people do good things?

Called by their religion. Have a servant heart. Legitimate selflessness still exists.

@antisocialbutterfly Alright. Let's take it one step at a time.

Why does one adhere to religion?

Or, what would you define as selflessness?

One adheres to a religion because they believe in its teachings
Selflessness is doing something without wanting or expecting any benefit for themselves in return

@antisocialbutterfly Why do they believe in its teachings?

Bear with me, please. We're working towards a goal.

Okay, so as long as they do not want or expect a benefit, it doesn't matter if they actually benefit from it for it to be selfless?

Do you want me to say that humanity is this evil thing that only cares for itself? Is that the goal? That charity and religion are actually self-serving? Because I don't believe that at all.

@antisocialbutterfly The goal is obtaining truth. Whatever that may be.

No, see, I think that is where you are misunderstanding. As I stated, selfishness is not a bad thing, by itself. You're locked into this mindset of "selfish = bad".

I'll give you an example. A parent jumps in front of a bullet to save their child. What could be more selfless?

Would you agree that this is a selfless thing? A parent giving their life for their child?

So why does the parent do it?

Because they have determined that they would be in more pain having to see their child die, than if they were to die, in the child's place. So, ultimately, their action to save their child from death is, in reality, saving themselves from the pain of seeing their child die.

So, if we say the motive is self-centered, would you still call this action a good action?

but they are also doing it for a selfless reason as well, so that their child can remain living

@antisocialbutterfly Why do they care if they child can live?

so the child can experience the full life they deserve

@antisocialbutterfly Right. That's the goal. But why does the parent feel that way?

because they think that their child should have what they deserve

@antisocialbutterfly We're kinda getting into a circular argument here.

For what reason do they care?

The answer can't be, "They care, because they care."

*Why* does the parent want their child to have what they deserve?