Altruism

Define 'Charity,' Define 'Humanity'

Susanne Mentzer | Posted 05.07.2012

Read More: Nonprofits, Arts, Philanthropy, Classical Music, Real Time With Bill Maher, Charity, Altruism, Tax Deductions, Bill Maher Charity, Charitable Giving, Culture News
Susanne Mentzer

On his April 27 broadcast, while challenging whether the Mormon Church is a charity, Bill Maher told viewers that donating to the arts also does not qualify as charitable giving, because "unlike food and water, access to Mozart is not a basic human necessity."

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Selfless Genes: A New Revolution in Biology

Jonathan Gottschall | Posted 04.02.2012

Read More: Selfish Gene Theory, E.O. Wilson, Altruism, Genetics, Evolution, Selfless Genes, Richard Dawkins, David Sloan Wilson, Selfish Genes, Science News
Jonathan Gottschall

Darwin and E.O. Wilson agree: no matter the species, if you have intense and sustained group-level conflict, selfless genes beat selfish genes; they beat them bloody; they beat them every single time.

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Let's Stop Wasting Our Dead

Larry Doyle | Posted 04.01.2012

Read More: Recycling, Scientific Research, Religion, Transplants, Altruism, Health, Organ Donation, Politics, Medicine, Comedy and Satire, Satire, Political Satire, Humor and Satire, Politics News
Larry Doyle

When I die, I would like to be eaten by puppies. I would prefer happy, rambunctious puppies, about eight weeks old and from the same litter if possible.

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The Surprising Progress Of The Charter For Compassion

Karen Armstrong | Posted 05.27.2012

Read More: Kindness, Random Acts of Kindness, Charter for Compassion, Nonviolence, Good News, Altruism, Religion News
Karen Armstrong

When the Charter for Compassion was launched in November 2009, I didn't know that by 2012 more than 85,000 people would have affirmed it online or that we would have 150 active partners around the world.

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Scientists Discover Fascinating Human-Like Trait In Chimps

Posted 02.09.2012

Read More: Video, Chimps, Tools, Chimpanzee Experiment, Unique Human Traits, Altruism, Animal Behavior, Psychology, Chimpanzees, Theory of Mind, Science News

By: Charles Choi, LiveScience Contributor Published: 02/06/2012 03:06 PM EST on LiveScience Chimps know what tools others need to get work done ...

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Why We Lend A Helping Hand

| Posted 01.16.2012

Read More: Altruism Costs, Video, Altruism, Cost of Lending a Helping Hand, Why We Are Altruistic, Why Help Others, Why We Help Others, Lend Helping Hand, Healthy Living News

By Krystal D'Costa (Click here for the original article) I boarded my commuter train with all of five minutes to spare, so I knew my prospects for...

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Why We Hate Atheists: Fear Of The Faithless

Mark Matousek | Posted 02.26.2012

Read More: Hatred, Fundamentalism, Moral Psychology, Terror, Altruism, Atheism, Rapists, Politics News
Mark Matousek

Atheists challenge this family system. We stand outside the big tent, wondering why the faithful have so little faith in the inherent goodness of human beings.

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Empathic Rats: Rats Choose to Help Others Over Chocolate

Marc Bekoff | Posted 02.11.2012

Read More: Lab Rats, Empathy, Altruism, Rats Empathy, Rats, Animals Emotions, Animals Empathy, Rats Empathy Altruistic Behavior, Chocolate, Denver News
Marc Bekoff

Some fascinating new results about empathy in laboratory rats caution against our tooting our "we're so special" horn too loudly or proudly.

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Thanksgiving Karma

Amy Spies | Posted 01.23.2012

Read More: Thanksgiving, Gratitude, Mindfulness, Environment, Green Living, Giving Back, Mindful Eating, Altruism, Homeless, Occupy Movement, Time Travel, Holiday, Activism, Los Angeles News
Amy Spies

It could be the beginning of a time-travel Thanksgiving tale: Connectedness = Karmic Gratitude. Miracle in the City of Angels. And yet, it really happened, once upon this time.

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Steve Jobs, Pop!Tech 2011, and Compassion

Swati Desai, Ph.D., LCSW | Posted 12.25.2011

Read More: Pop!Tech, Steve Jobs, Social Media, Psychology, Evolution, Compassion, Altruism, Steve Jobs Philanthropy, Technology News
Swati Desai, Ph.D., LCSW

Steve Jobs was often criticized for his apparent lack of compassion. He was not known for making generous philanthropic donations to worthy causes. Th...

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Life Is What You Do

Rita Schiano | Posted 01.21.2012

Read More: Dreams, Altruism, Life-Fulfillment, Life Advice, Healthy Living Spirit, Redroom, Goals, Life, Death, The Bucket List, Happiness, Healthy Living News
Rita Schiano

Get started on your bucket list. Add to it often. Make a promise to yourself to try doing one of the desires on your list each day or week.

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Stop Scaring Boomers: Why Social Security Matters

Carol Orsborn | Posted 11.22.2011

Read More: Entitlements, Aging, Medicare, Baby Boomers, Social Security, Baby Boomer Women, Baby Boomers Social Security, Altruism, Social Science, Future Generations, Politics News
Carol Orsborn

Just as one can ascend the pyramid towards actualization, so can one slip back down to the bottom, where fulfilling the urge to give back is replaced with the survival-driven pursuit of basic needs.

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There's No "I" in Peace Corps Volunteer

Ross Szabo | Posted 11.07.2011

Read More: Volunteering, Altruism, Peace Corps, Peace Corps Volunteering, Peace Corps Volunteers, Volunteerism, Impact News
Ross Szabo

Every person's understanding of why they volunteer is different and each individual needs to find what mindset works best for him/her. You would be surprised how hard it can be for people to find peace in their altruism.

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Chimps Shed Selfish Title

Posted 10.11.2011

Read More: Video, Chimps, Co-Operate, Chimpanzee, Chimpanzees Sharing Food, The National Academy of Sciences, Altruism, Generous, Pro-Social, Animals, Monkey, Monkeys, Selfish, Green News

Chimpanzees may be more generous than we thought. Chimps spontaneously displaying empathy by consoling each other after fights and sharing food ha...

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Rise of the Kindness of the Apes

Eric Michael Johnson | Posted 10.10.2011

Read More: Primates, Cooperation, Biology, Altruism, Science, Evolution, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Chimpanzees, Planet of the Apes, Animals, Media News
Eric Michael Johnson

Caesar and his fellow simians in the blockbuster film may have had a few canines to grind, but new research reveals that chimpanzees are more interested in sharing a meal than starting a revolution.

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A 500-Year Plan For Humanity's Mental Health

Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. | Posted 08.09.2011

Read More: Elisha Goldstein, Sharon Salzberg, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Jack Kornfield, Altruism, Healthy Living News
Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D.

Altruistic acts need to be introduced into our mental health plans. If you choose some way to help future generations and you're involved on an ongoing basis, you will absolutely benefit psychologically.

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Why We Don't Need God to Be Good (and What Religious Folk Don't Want You to Know)

Mark Matousek | Posted 11.17.2011

Read More: Mirror Neurons, Oxytocin, God, Atheism, Goodness, Empathy, Altruism, Obama, Religious Lies, Healthy Living News
Mark Matousek

It is through mirror neurons -- not God -- that we redeem ourselves, achieve salvation, and are "reborn" in virtuous ways once co-opted by religions. Evolution knew what she was doing.

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Mind, Brain, Genes, Neuroplasticity and Enlightenment

Deepak Chopra | Posted 06.07.2011

Read More: Spiritual Enlightenment, Neuroplasticity, Gene Regulation, Brain-Functioning, Altruism, Free Will, Rudolph Tanzi, Video, Home News
Deepak Chopra

Rudolph Tanzi and Deepak Chopra discuss brain functioning and neuroplasticity.

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The New Generation Of Karma Junkies

Yael Cohen | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Nonprofits, Philanthropy, Charity, Volunteering, Altruism, Karma, Inspiration, Social Responsibility, Giving Back, The Giving Life, Volunteerism, Impact News
Yael Cohen

What's with the boom in charity work in recent years? What is it about contemporary society that has everyone taking up the good fight and lending a hand with the perils of the world?

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The Politics of Altruism

Dovid Efune | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Natan Sharansky, Henry Kissinger, Egypt Revolution, Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, Altruism, United Nations, Iran, The Case for Democracy, Realism, Barack Obama, Politics News
Dovid Efune

As widespread unrest throughout the Muslim world continues, A Case for Democracy by former Soviet dissident and Israeli politician Natan Sharansky is ...

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SUBWAY HERO

nydailynews.com | By Barry Paddock, Pete Donohue and Rocco Parascandola | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Derrick Oates, Mta News, Mta, Altruism, Subway, Ny News, Subway Hero, Video, New York News

The mystery hero who rescued a woman pushed onto the subway tracks by a deranged lunatic made a surprise visit Monday to the victim's hospital room. ...

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Can We Be Truly Good? The Transcendent And Sacred Possibilities In Humans

Rabbi David Wolpe | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Altruism, Stories of Goodness, Random Acts of Kindness, Death & Dying, Dealing With Grief, Stories of Kindness, Rabbi David Wolpe, Jewish Mourning Rituals, Religion News
Rabbi David Wolpe

Is there such a thing as disinterested goodness? In the world of faith I believe there is -- and I offer a brief, wonderful story to reinforce the point.

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Playing Nice Makes Life Easier

Deborah Schoeberlein | Posted 11.17.2011

Read More: Niceness, Niceness Benefits, Being Nice, Altruism, Benefits of Niceness, Playing Nice, Happiness, Healthy Living News
Deborah Schoeberlein

Little interactions matter, and cumulatively, the tenor of our exchanges with others influences the quality of our daily experience.

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How Did Humans Evolve The Most Loving Brain On Earth?

Rick Hanson, Ph.D. | Posted 11.17.2011

Read More: Buddha's Brain, Social Structures, Neuroscience, Rick Hanson, Child Attachment, Altruism, Family Groups, Biological Evolution, Friendship Romance, Parents and Children, Love, Evolution, Healthy Living News
Rick Hanson, Ph.D.

Humans are the most sociable species on earth -- for better and for worse. So how did we evolve the most loving brain on the planet?

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Iceberg Economies and Shadow Selves: Further Adventures in the Territories of Hope

Rebecca Solnit | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Volunteering, Invisible Hand, Capitalism, Economy, Altruism, Anti Capitalism, Capitalistic Economy, Business News
Rebecca Solnit

Who wouldn't agree that our society is capitalistic, based on competition and selfishness? As it happens, however, huge areas of our lives are also based on gift economies, barter, mutual aid, and giving without hope of return.

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