altruism

/'æltruizm/

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Thân thiện

Definition

Noun:
- The quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others: Altruism refers to the principle or practice of selfless concern for the well-being of other people, often involving personal sacrifice.

Usage

Altruism is used to describe a moral principle or a character trait.
It is often discussed in contexts of ethics, philosophy, psychology, and sociology.
It contrasts with selfishness or egoism.

Examples

Noun:
- Her lifelong dedication to helping the homeless was a true example of altruism.
- The scientist was motivated by pure altruism, not by a desire for fame or profit.
- Acts of altruism, like donating to charity, can strengthen community bonds.

Advanced Usage

"Biological altruism": In evolutionary biology, this refers to behavior by an organism that increases the fitness of another organism while decreasing its own.
- The theory of kin selection attempts to explain biological altruism among related individuals.
"Effective altruism": A philosophy and social movement that uses evidence and reason to determine the most effective ways to benefit others.
- He follows the principles of effective altruism, carefully researching which charities do the most good per dollar donated.

Variants and Related Words

Altruist (n): A person who has an unselfish concern for the welfare of others.
- She was known as a great altruist who devoted her life to humanitarian causes.
Altruistic (adj): Showing a selfless concern for the well-being of others; unselfish.
- His decision to donate his kidney was an incredibly altruistic act.

Synonyms

Selflessness: The quality of caring more about the needs of others than about one's own.
Benevolence: The quality of being well-meaning; kindness.
Philanthropy: The desire to promote the welfare of others, typically expressed by the generous donation of money to good causes. (Note: This often implies large-scale, organized giving.)

Antonyms

Selfishness: The quality of being concerned chiefly with one's own personal profit or pleasure.
Egoism: An ethical theory that treats self-interest as the foundation of morality.
Greed: Intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth or power.

Related Idioms and Phrases

"A labor of love": Work done for the pleasure of it or for the benefit of a loved one, often without pay. This can be an expression of altruism.
- Volunteering at the animal shelter isn't a job for her; it's a labor of love.
"To give of oneself": To devote one's time and energy generously for the benefit of others.
- True leaders are those who give of themselves for the good of the team.

Noun

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