Altruism REVIEW OF LITERATURE

it certain ethic is required critical and rational attitude in realizing moral. However, moral standard is not always same in each domain. Moral can be different or even be contrast in each country. It is also with ethic. There are several theories of ethic. It can be concluded that moral defines personal character, while ethic makes critical reflection over the moral.

2.4 Altruism

Auguste Comte, French philosopher coined the term altruism in 1851. Aguste Comte penned the term altruism, derived from the Latin word alter and the Italian adjective altrui. It means other people. Altruism is an ethic system that accentuates benevolence toward others. Comte 1875 believed that Altruism signified benevolence or living for others. He stated that an act of altruism is self-sacrifice for the benefit of others. Some people considered his ethical system in which the only moral acts were those intended to promote the happiness of others rather extreme, so meaning loving others as oneself evolved. Altruists choose to align their well-being with others, so they feel happy when others thrive, feel sad when others are suffering. Essential in establishing strong relationships, most societies acknowledge the importance of altruism within the family. By motivating cooperation rather than conflict, it promotes harmony within communities of any size. Altruism is the abdication of claims of power over others, to state that none of us are worth more and none are worth less than anyone else is almost a truism, but modern technology has given a new urgency to all such appeals for altruism. Everything that makes it possible and enjoyable to live is a free gift. Quoted from: http:www.altruists.orgabout altruism Universitas Sumatera Utara There are several opinions about altruism. Salam 1997 in his book Etika Sosial states that Altruism is the principle or practice of unselfish concern for or devotion to the welfare of others. He also said that Altruism is an ethic that holds the moral value of people attitudes depend solely on the impact on other people, regardless of the consequence on that people. Batson 1998 made a classification between altruism and egoism. According to Batson 1991: 114 altruism is the feeling empathy for a person in need evokes motivation to help that person in which these benefits to self are not the ultimate goal of helping; they are unintended consequences. According to Santrock 2003 the circumstances most likely to evoke altruism are empathy for an individual in need, or a close relationship between the benefactor and the recipient. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Altruism or selflessness is the principle or practice of concern for the welfare of others. It is a traditional virtue in many cultures and a core aspect of various religious traditions and secular worldviews, though the concept of others toward whom concern should be directed can vary among cultures and religions. Altruism or selflessness is the opposite of selfishness. Altruism can be distinguished from feelings of loyalty. Pure altruism consists of sacrificing something for someone other than the self, for example sacrificing time, energy or possessions with no expectation of any compensation or benefits, either direct, or indirect for example receiving recognition for the act of giving. For almost all of history, humans never saw the need to buy and sell things, or even to barter. Altruism is its own reward. Positive relationships with others have always been a more natural basis for self-esteem than either material objects or Universitas Sumatera Utara illusions about money or power over others. Altruism is when we act to promote someone else’s welfare, even at a risk or cost to ourselves. Though some believe that humans are fundamentally self-interested, recent research suggests otherwise studies have found that people’s first impulse is to cooperate rather than compete; that toddlers spontaneously help people in need out of a genuine concern for their welfare; and that even non-human primates display altruism. Evolutionary scientists speculate that altruism has such deep roots in human nature because helping and cooperation promotes the survival of our species. Indeed, Darwin himself argued that altruism is an essential part of the social instincts. Quoted from :http:greatergood.berkeley.edutopicaltruismdefinition However, many pro social behaviors that appear altruistic are in fact motivated by the norm of reciprocity, which is the obligation to return a favor with a favor. People feel guilty when they do not reciprocate and they may feel angry when someone else does not reciprocate. Reciprocal altruism suggests that such helping is driven by a genetic tendency. Thus some professionals argue that altruism may not exist, and is completely motivated by reciprocity. Either reciprocity or altruism may motivate many important pro-social behaviors, including sharing. The term Altruism may also refer to an ethical doctrine that claims that individuals are morally obliged to benefit others. Used in this sense, it is usually contrasted with Egoism, which is defined as acting to the benefit of ones self. The concept has a long history in philosophical and ethical thought. Generally, theory of ethic has its own system to identify moral. Altruism is opposite with Egoism ethic. Whilst ideas about Altruism from one field can have an impact on the other fields, the different methods and focuses of these fields always lead to different perspectives Universitas Sumatera Utara on altruism. In simple terms, Altruism is caring about the welfare of other people and acting to help them. Berkowitz 1966 defines altruistic behavior as a voluntary act which must aim to benefit others and which must be carried out without expectation of a reward. So in Altruism, several moral are accordant with this theory of ethic such self-sacrifices, compassion, caring others, unselfish, etc. Universitas Sumatera Utara

CHAPTER III METHOD OF RESEARCH