What is selfish altruism?

Question

What is selfish altruism?

Answer 1

Altruism is the selfless concern for the welfare of others.  'Selfish altruism' is when people do something for other but feel really good about it afterwards so it's not really 'selfless' concern and therefore not really altruism!

Answer 2

an oxymoron - like awful good.  the two terms (by definition) cannot go together.

Now - there are acts that a social psychologist would identify as altruism that enables the person's genes to continue - although may hurt themselves.  In a socio-biological view - our goal is to have our genes survive... period.

Answer 3

It's a seeming act of altruism done for some sort of material or social gain, such as celebrities who do charity benefits, not because they actually care, but to increase their public profile.

Or doing something altruistic so that people think well of you.

The person who says that the good feeling that comes from doing kind things makes it not altruistic is wrong.

Answer 4

Let's use an example for the purpose of demonstration. A very large well-known company puts an advertisement on television. Let's say company x says that with every product sold that is sold by their company, a portion of the proceeds will go to charity. They don't say how much, or whether it comes from their gross sales or net sales. The bottom line for them is, they are getting their products promoted, which increases sales, plus most companies don't say a percentage of the sales will go toward the charity, it's usually a fixed amount. One final thing. We never know when their generosity ends. Is this charitable venture on for 6 months, or 1 year? Will customers continue to buy the company's products believing that a portion is still being given to said charity? This might be construed as selfish altruism.  

Answer 5

Altruism is the unselfish interest in the welfare of others.  So if you want an explanation of selfish altruism, it could only be that one has a selfish interest in a future gain resulting from the welfare of another.

Answer 6

I think it is an altruistic act we do to unconscious make us appear better (more chance of receiving charity or s*x). I.e. we give more to charity in a theoretical game when watched by a face-like stimuli.

Alternatively, it could be altruism which increases chance of genes perpetuating in the gene pool - i.e. kin selection or peer selection.