Ethics of Altruism
Molli - given the number of perspectives here and vehement debates, you might want to think about presenting your work as a talk show or panel discussion...
What is altruism:
For quick philosophical definitions try Philosophy Basics [http://www.philosophybasics.com/branch_altruism.html] or Philagora [http://www.philoagora.com/content/view/78/129/]. Key thinkers include:
Modern Interpretations
Effective Altruism
Peter Singer's Ted Talk on Effective Altruism [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Diuv3XZQXyc] and Sebastian Farquhar's talk at The Philosophy Zone [http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/philosopherszone/doing-good-better/7025982] outline many different ways that individuals can make the world a better place through Effective Altruism (doing the most good for the least cost). This movement is gaining popularity across the Western world, but it can also be critiqued as making charity just another "shopping mall" which absolves us of personal commitment to the world (See New Internationalist, July 2016).
Psychological interpretations
Altruism is also hotly debated among psychologists - helping others helps to mediate depression and anxiety - is it part of human nature? Philosophy Talk [http://philosophytalk.org/shows/altruism] thinks so. Adam Gorlick suggests that children are naturally altruistic [http://news.stanford.edu/news/2008/november5/tanner-110508.html] and Sean Grover lauds the value of altruistic activities for teen [https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/when-kids-call-the-shots/201511/4-ways-altruism-produces-happy-and-empowered-children]
Evolutionary biology
Evolutionary biologist, Richard Dworkins concept of The Selfish Gene argue that we are innately selfish and altruism is impossible (especially from the point of parent/child relationships). Even acts of kindness that create social cohesion are just a way to survive and pass on genes. You can read a summary of his book [http://old.unipr.it/arpa/defi/econlaw/SELFISH%20GENE.pdf]
or listen to Richard Dworkins on YouTube's Altruism and the Selfish Gene [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8C-ntwUpzM] or read academic outline of socio-biology on Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy [http://www.iep.utm.edu/altr-grp/#H4]
Annalee Newitz critques this viewpoint here [http://io9.gizmodo.com/its-time-to-get-skeptical-about-the-selfish-gene-1476844689]
Arguments against Altruism
Detailed arguments against altruism are outlined at the Effective Altruism Forum [http://effective-altruism.com/ea/x4/philosophical_critiques_of_effective_altruism_by/]. the main criticisms are that it belittles the value of things that matter to oneself (Gray, Williams), it denies the moral integrity of the self (Srinivasan) and that a "world ruled by Oxfam"(!) (Nussbaum) is not preferable to the one we currently have.
Aristotle duties toward ourselves as well as others
Nietsche (an egotist) - thinking of others degrades the self
Judith Lichtenberg examines the dichotomy between altruism and egotism at the New York Times [http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/19/is-pure-altruism-possible/?_r=0]
Rand - a society based on selflessness would be a communist society (which she thinks is bad). Her ideas are behind the type of American "liberalism" which thinks all social issues can be solved through big business and economic opportunities, and can be found at Libertarianism.org [http://www.libertarianism.org/publications/essays/excursions/ayn-rand-altruism-part-1]
Arguments against Rand: Maia Szalavitz Is human nature fundamentally selfish or altruistic? [http://healthland.time.com/2012/10/08/is-human-nature-fundamentally-selfish-or-altruistic/] If you're interested in this debate, have a look at the (re)definitions in Altruism in Comte and Rand [http://www.philosophie-management.com/docs/2012_First_semester/Campbell_-_Altruism_in_Rand_and_Comte.pdf] and the ideas in Comte, Altruism and the Critique of Political Philosophy [https://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/halshs-01168341/document]
In-groups and Out-groups
Most altruistic impulses are confined to the people closest to us, our families and immediate communities, those we can empathise with because they are most like us. Ken Taylor on Extreme altruism [http://www.philosophytalk.org/community/blog/ken-taylor/2016/04/extreme-altruism] clarifies the priority we give as a society to in-group altruism. This supports Aristotle's claim that altruism is based on a selfish form of pity because we think the same thing might happen to us [https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hide-and-seek/201203/does-true-altruism-exist]. Something to think about: Is this any different to Jesus' instruction to "do unto others as [we] would wish others' to do unto [us]"?
In contrast, Peter Singer (above) suggests ways we can target out-groups effectively.
Altruism and environmentalism
altruism and families
Mother who regrets her children is an example of Altruism at work [https://www.theobjectivestandard.com/2013/04/mom-who-regrets-her-children-is-example-of-altruism-at-work/]
What is altruism:
For quick philosophical definitions try Philosophy Basics [http://www.philosophybasics.com/branch_altruism.html] or Philagora [http://www.philoagora.com/content/view/78/129/]. Key thinkers include:
- Jesus was well-known for his equal treatment of all he encountered - women, foreigners, prostitutes, cripples etc. Christian philosophers thus follow his teaching of "love your neightbour as yourself". A central story in this tradition is the parable of the Good Samaritan, but experiments have shown that this doesn't always happen, even with students training to be priests! Good Samaritan experiment [http://faculty.babson.edu/krollag/org_site/soc_psych/darley_samarit.html]
- Comte (who coined the word Altruism, and founded the school of philosophy called Positivism). You can read about his ideas at The Mises Institute [https://mises.org/blog/altruism-really-virtue] outlines and critiques the key points in comte's philosophy (compatred to Ayn Rand's. Bear in mind that this is an economics site, so it will present a very specific perspective aligned to its economic values...
- Buddha (transcend suffering through compassion) Matthieu Ricard, a Buddhist philosopher who tries to promote "sustainable harmony" (with others, with the environment...) over "sustainable growth". Listen to his Ted Talk [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8C-ntwUpzM]
Modern Interpretations
Effective Altruism
Peter Singer's Ted Talk on Effective Altruism [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Diuv3XZQXyc] and Sebastian Farquhar's talk at The Philosophy Zone [http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/philosopherszone/doing-good-better/7025982] outline many different ways that individuals can make the world a better place through Effective Altruism (doing the most good for the least cost). This movement is gaining popularity across the Western world, but it can also be critiqued as making charity just another "shopping mall" which absolves us of personal commitment to the world (See New Internationalist, July 2016).
Psychological interpretations
Altruism is also hotly debated among psychologists - helping others helps to mediate depression and anxiety - is it part of human nature? Philosophy Talk [http://philosophytalk.org/shows/altruism] thinks so. Adam Gorlick suggests that children are naturally altruistic [http://news.stanford.edu/news/2008/november5/tanner-110508.html] and Sean Grover lauds the value of altruistic activities for teen [https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/when-kids-call-the-shots/201511/4-ways-altruism-produces-happy-and-empowered-children]
Evolutionary biology
Evolutionary biologist, Richard Dworkins concept of The Selfish Gene argue that we are innately selfish and altruism is impossible (especially from the point of parent/child relationships). Even acts of kindness that create social cohesion are just a way to survive and pass on genes. You can read a summary of his book [http://old.unipr.it/arpa/defi/econlaw/SELFISH%20GENE.pdf]
or listen to Richard Dworkins on YouTube's Altruism and the Selfish Gene [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8C-ntwUpzM] or read academic outline of socio-biology on Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy [http://www.iep.utm.edu/altr-grp/#H4]
Annalee Newitz critques this viewpoint here [http://io9.gizmodo.com/its-time-to-get-skeptical-about-the-selfish-gene-1476844689]
Arguments against Altruism
Detailed arguments against altruism are outlined at the Effective Altruism Forum [http://effective-altruism.com/ea/x4/philosophical_critiques_of_effective_altruism_by/]. the main criticisms are that it belittles the value of things that matter to oneself (Gray, Williams), it denies the moral integrity of the self (Srinivasan) and that a "world ruled by Oxfam"(!) (Nussbaum) is not preferable to the one we currently have.
Aristotle duties toward ourselves as well as others
Nietsche (an egotist) - thinking of others degrades the self
Judith Lichtenberg examines the dichotomy between altruism and egotism at the New York Times [http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/19/is-pure-altruism-possible/?_r=0]
Rand - a society based on selflessness would be a communist society (which she thinks is bad). Her ideas are behind the type of American "liberalism" which thinks all social issues can be solved through big business and economic opportunities, and can be found at Libertarianism.org [http://www.libertarianism.org/publications/essays/excursions/ayn-rand-altruism-part-1]
Arguments against Rand: Maia Szalavitz Is human nature fundamentally selfish or altruistic? [http://healthland.time.com/2012/10/08/is-human-nature-fundamentally-selfish-or-altruistic/] If you're interested in this debate, have a look at the (re)definitions in Altruism in Comte and Rand [http://www.philosophie-management.com/docs/2012_First_semester/Campbell_-_Altruism_in_Rand_and_Comte.pdf] and the ideas in Comte, Altruism and the Critique of Political Philosophy [https://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/halshs-01168341/document]
In-groups and Out-groups
Most altruistic impulses are confined to the people closest to us, our families and immediate communities, those we can empathise with because they are most like us. Ken Taylor on Extreme altruism [http://www.philosophytalk.org/community/blog/ken-taylor/2016/04/extreme-altruism] clarifies the priority we give as a society to in-group altruism. This supports Aristotle's claim that altruism is based on a selfish form of pity because we think the same thing might happen to us [https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hide-and-seek/201203/does-true-altruism-exist]. Something to think about: Is this any different to Jesus' instruction to "do unto others as [we] would wish others' to do unto [us]"?
In contrast, Peter Singer (above) suggests ways we can target out-groups effectively.
Altruism and environmentalism
altruism and families
Mother who regrets her children is an example of Altruism at work [https://www.theobjectivestandard.com/2013/04/mom-who-regrets-her-children-is-example-of-altruism-at-work/]