When you help someone, why do you do it?

Question

In the book, "Clarence Darrow: For the Defense" by Irving Stone, Clarence Darrow talks about giving money to a helpless blind man.

He says, quote, PLEASE READ THIS

"..most people do things in a desire to escape pain. Did you ever stop to watch a bind man begging on the street corner? A man passes by hurriedly and suddenly stops still; he looks hurt, annoyed. He goes back and drops a coin in the blind man's cup. Well-maybe he couldn't afford the dime. But the site of the helpless man standing forlornly at he corner hurts him, makes him feel a sense of social responsibility, and so he buys ten cents' worth of relief from social pain."

Is this why people help others? What do you think? I agree entirely.

Answer 1

I agree with you, but I think there is more to the argument.

Many times help is out of pity, but what is so wrong with that? So the "helper" is just assuaging a guilty conscience, but there's a little bit more happiness in the world because of it. What is intrinsically wrong with that? Is it because it's not pure and noble enough? Where do you stop questioning good things and become completely depressed and isolated?

Also, when you decide to help a friend move for example, what pain are you easing then? None. You're just adhering to the natural social instinct present in all humans. The one that makes us feel good when we work as a team.

I think as long as you don't put on airs about you're divine benevolence, and you have no illusions about the possibility that the help you're providing could be as selfish as it is altruistic, then keep doing good deeds. Who cares if that warm fuzzy feeling is selfish. It's better than that cold nihilistic feeling that pessimistic, nihilistic, boo hoo the world is a selfish place type people cry themselves into an early grave with.

Answer 2

hoping that others/God will help them back someday.

love

Pluto

Answer 3

I am totally agree with the quote. And bless the helping man too.

I have my own reason when helping people that are need helps, and it can be anything that help. If i have money, doesnt matter how much i have, i will give them (that in my opinion deserves) money, the amounts depend on my situation, and when i dont have money to give, i will give my smile(note: not to the blind man at the street corner,coz he cant see my smile :-) but i do heard blindman can really 'feel' it). And the main reason is to make myself feeling better coz it hurts me to see beggars that are disable. Besides, its a good thing to do.

Okay i confess, the reason is coz i want God to let me go to heaven.lol.

No, seriously, i help people coz i want to and i can.

Answer 4

I help people for the sake of being good.

Not for a reward, not for fear of punishment.

But because I do to others what I would hope would be done to me.

=)

Answer 5

I can somewhat agree but there are times when I give out of joy and not guilt and when I feel no guilt for not giving.

Answer 6

Because I feel empathy for other people. We all know what it's like to be in a quandary/in pain etc. I do it because on some level, I understand what they're going through. This may sound like a cliche, but I do it out of the goodness of heart, just to help. I don't like seeing others hurt/in pain/torment, if I can help ease that, I will.

Answer 7

...compassion for my fellow man...

Answer 8

There is a fine line between hurting and helping and especially in regards to charity.  A wise man once said to me: "Don't give anything to anybody unless you know who you are giving to." Who knows, I could give a dime to the bum on the corner and he may go and by the device of his/her demise

Answer 9

i help people b/c it makes me feel really bad about myself..........

*sarcasm**

it makes me feel warm and fuzzy

Answer 10

sure, it makes you feel better about yourself...

I know that i personally do not help other for any kind of recognition but because it makes me feel like maybe, just maybe, i've made a difference to someone...and that makes me feel like i'm not wasting my time here on earth.

treat others as you want to be treated...i hope that if i'm ever in need, that there will be someone there to help me out as well!!!

Answer 11

There is an obligation to help others.

I think a majority of people do things to feel good about themselves. They are ruled by Consequentialist ethics.  

Answer 12

Well, i saw on tv that sharing might actually be genetically inherited, so, maybe helping (as a form of sharing in a way) others could be the same...

Plus,

Its nice.

And of course should only to be to a certain extent.

Answer 13

there is no selfless act... there are many different logic / motivational paths to the same action... they all start with the self...  

Answer 14

i do think most people do it to escape self judgment so maybe they wont miss a wink of sleep that night. but i do it because i am able and I would like to think if I was ever in their shoe someone would treat me as kindly as I had treated that person on the side walk. I beleive in carma

Answer 15

I guess that every sefless act that a person does would give some sort of satisfaction back to the person...but it might depend whether or not the person decided to help someone because they could signal one's distress or that they would feel better about themselves.

Answer 16

u help people because they are in need of help unless ur stubborn or they need help with something that isnt worth the help like drugs

Answer 17

i help more animals than people why cause people can survive and animals dont have this choice if you see a begging man on the corner with a tincan you say dang what would i do if i was in his shoes well myself i would not be sitting on the corner instead i would find peace of mind in the world...and if you see/hear of a animal who is on the corner just like the begger was you hear/feel nothing its like dang animal population is outta hand right WRONG!!! if people willing to help people thats fine and dandy go out and bust your butt to support the human race that sit on the corner and you might want to give a bottle of wine by the way...myself i will continue to give that stray dog/cat something to eat and if i have maybe a old shirt on hand i will make it so they can wear it with the words on the side reading"hey im human can i have a dime"