In one of those strange and common coincidences, after completing the last post about altruism I came across someone else’s elegant discussion of the exact same issue. The late Carl Sagan and his wife, Ann Druyan, published Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors in 1993. They discuss altruism early on, and their take on the relevant principles of behavioral ecology is (not surprisingly) better informed than mine. To account for the widespread occurrence of apparent altruism, they invoke a diffusion of the instincts that support kin selection. In brief, they suggest that if there is a strong likelihood that neighbors share genes, then a blanket policy of helping out will tend to spread. Anyone interested would do well to read the book. It gives a nice history of the biology of the human race, and offers insightful observations about the possible sources of many Homo sapien characteristics.
But the roots of altruism are not as important as its effects. Regardless of why animals and people sometimes help one another, we can take comfort that the behavior occurs. If everyone acted with relentless selfishness, we would stand little chance of surviving the many crises we face as a species. Even though we are spoon fed a consumerist ethic that glorifies self-gratification, there are many people who devote themselves to the common good.
Having people ‘out there’ who like to help is a delightful thing. Even better is having an inner desire to help others. The last essay alluded to the fact that altruistic behavior makes people feel good. Every time we set selfish interests aside, and devote our energies to larger concerns, we grow wiser and more mature. The minute we quit focusing on our personal and constricting worries and problems, and start seeing the difficulties faced by others, we find that life is easier to bear. One sad fact about depression is that it encourages us to retract into ourselves and expend energy in fruitless battles against psychic demons. Unfortunately, dark moods and pessimistic attitudes get stronger the more we attend to them. It is far more healing to look outside and help others than it is to gaze inward in hopes of defeating our many internal enemies.
By adopting an altruistic attitude we gain by: 1) taking attention away from negative obsessions; 2) seeing our problems from a broader perspective; and 3) developing connections with other people. Let’s consider these in turn.
1) No one has ever cured an obsession by obsessing about it. The best way to escape negative cycles of thought and mood is to shift attention away from them. Although thinking differently about a tough situation can reduce pessimism, it is often better to not think about it at all. When we contemplate a potential loss, we should be careful not to exaggerate its likelihood, or overestimate its negative impact, or ignore our sources of support. But unless there is concrete action we can take right now, we will find the greatest relief by diverting our thoughts toward something else. And one of the most healing things to think about is how we can help another person.
2) As soon as we search for ways to help others, we awaken to the fact that suffering is widespread. Whatever our problems and fears, there are people who have greater difficulties and more to worry about. Seeing this, we recognize that much of the world shares our anxiety. We begin to feel gratitude for what is good in our lives, rather than anger and terror about what is—or might become—bad.
3) We also start to meet people who face similar problems. We find that by offering them support, we receive a measure of comfort in return. We enjoy richer connections with our fellow travelers on this lovely planet. The torment of isolation gives way to the treasure of community.
Aside from these concrete benefits, opening our arms to help others is a good way to escape being dominated and tormented by the egocentric parts of our minds.
Our biggest problem is not that we live in a difficult world. Our suffering does not come from outside. Our biggest challenge is overcoming the verbal and logical mind’s conviction that it is the most important object in the universe. Not only does the ego disregard the suffering of other people, it denies the value—and often the very existence—of older and wiser parts of the human brain. It insists on satisfying its endless hungers before it permits feelings of contentment. Since those appetites are rarely sated for more than a few moments at a time, the ego keeps us on an endless treadmill of striving and self-aggrandizement. The best gift of altruism is that it begins to free us from the clutches of this internal and miserable tyrant.
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Lili at http://YourWebsite
You know me and my ADD so…
In terms of this part:
Our biggest problem is not that we live in a difficult world. (Maybe not “our” biggest problem but for some it might possible be the biggest problem-if you have a hole for a toilet, no AC or electrical and tin for walls, no food, and no electricity maybe a difficult world IS for some people that they live in a difficult world)
Our suffering does not come from outside. (On one level I agree for many have been beaten and tortured yet their internal motivations keep them going)
Our biggest challenge is overcoming the verbal and logical mind’s conviction that it is the most important object in the universe. (Some religions teach the very opposite of this so I’m not altogether sure what you mean by this)
Not only does the ego disregard the suffering of other people, it denies the value—and often the very existence—of older and wiser parts of the human brain. (This also makes me think. So when a person is naturally in service in terms of helping other people are their brains wired differently? For example people like Mother Teresa. Though she was Catholic and a nun. She served-sometimes to the opposition to those that trained and supported her.)
It insists on satisfying its endless hungers before it permits feelings of contentment. (What are the endless hungers? Are there ever really feelings of contentment or your point was that the ego can never really be fed?)
Since those appetites are rarely sated for more than a few moments at a time, the ego keeps us on an endless treadmill of striving and self-aggrandizement. (Striving I can see-but I’d need the definition of self-aggrandizement.)
The best gift of altruism is that it begins to free us from the clutches of this internal and miserable tyrant.(This I have to ponder.)
Posted at February 7, 2010 on 9:56am.
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Will at http://willspirit.com
Lili–
Interesting comments. In response:
1. Food, clothing, and shelter are basic needs. It is probably possible for saints to transcend severe privation, but most of us can’t. Still, once we have these basic necessities, the problem does become the mind.
2. Maybe the statement about the logical mind thinking it is the center of the universe was poorly stated. Do any spiritual systems glorify self-absorption?
3. I don’t think the brains of wise people are wired differently. To use the electrical analogy, I would say they have different software running on the same basic hardware. They have disciplined themselves so that their egos remain available for problem-solving, but the wiser centers of the brain make the more important decisions, like whether to help others versus helping the self.
4. My point was the latter: the ego is never satisfied.
5. Self-aggrandizement, as I am using it, refers to working to please selfish interests.
Posted at February 7, 2010 on 9:46pm.