Are all human actions, even kindness self-centered?

Question

I'm thinking about this from a House, M.D. perspective...

Answer 1

Not really, its a bit of a paradox.  

Answer 2

If you accept philosophies that are based on the self it is.  

Answer 3

Absolutely. The whole of human kindness stems from a need to feel "happiness" and the things we do to to attain it.

If giving to the homeless made you feel like absolute rotten pork, would you do it? h**l no.

You act in kindness because it feels right. It makes you happy.

So a vote for happiness is a vote for selfishness. But f*king SUE me! It feels right.

Answer 4

you could say that.

Answer 5

I would agree but self-serving does not mean selfish.

Answer 6

Well, as a Christian and from a Christian point of view, I would say that the good things we get, like the feelings of happiness, when we do something for others is a reward from God. We were made to live in perfect harmony with God, Creation and each other, and the closer we live to this original purpose, the happier we will be. Of course, we can't perfectly achieve this in our lives on Earth, because we are still living in sin, but when we go to Heaven this is exactly what it will be like.

I've gone off track, the point is that the good feelings we get when we do something good for other people comes from the fact that we were made to do those things for each other, and it does not take away from the goodness of what we do. If we try to do these things just for those feelings, then it will not really work, we may feel good but it will be a superficial happiness rather than a true happiness. We should be doing good out of love for one another, and the happiness we feel because of that will show us that we are on the right track and help us to keep doing good things even if it is hard.

Answer 7

Now a days I would say yes. In the past people actually did things for other people out of the kindness of their hearts.