Page:Jewish Encyclopedia Volume 1.pdf/523

475 AXiTRUISm A term derived from the late Latin

Buddhism were

at one and the same time egoistic Self-obliteration in this life as-sures Self-realization beself realization in the other. ing, according to Buddhism, the mother of all evil, self -obliteration is the road to permanent hai)piness.



alkr

Altona Altruism

THE JEWISH ENCYCLOPEDIA

475

and

other"); dative, nltevi huir. contracted toiilli niir. It seems to liave been first used by Comte (1798-1857), to designate conduct impelled by motives utterly unselfish and inspired by the sole deItic

("tliis

rui;U

L.t ^.sK

l.l.MLit,UV

(From

ft

bring about the happiness of another without reganl to, or even at the expense of. one's own. As such it isopposcil to egoism. It slaiuls to reason that there is no c(|uivalcnt of it in ancient or nmilern Hebn-w. Till' very idea which it connntes, e.aggeralc ilmninant im)iorlance, hedonistic ((<., happiness) ethics becomes either egoistic or allruistii-. . d even those systems, largely theological, that secMungly lijive harmonized Altruism with

self iiblilcnilinn.

this

by accenlualing

OK

ALiU.N.V.

pbotogTft)>h.)

sire to

egoism have done

altruistic.

that self ha])-

piness will only beattained through ciaiiluct leading to the increase or the establishment of the happiness of another. In this sense both the ethics of ('hrisliaidtv and

Buddhistic as well as Christian Altruism are thus founded on other-worldliness. which Ethics of in the Christian scheme liowers in the Christian- assnnmce of personal felicity in a higher state, wlu'rcas in that of Budity and

Buddhism,

dhisin it i)roinis<>s release from all evil of self-existence in the blissful and hajipy Nirvana. Tli(> non -theological systems of ethics, almost without exception, have failed to establish a higher harmony between egoism and Altruism. In the more recent writings on evolutionary ethics the school Cpon of Herbert Spencer the endeavor is made. psvchological grounds it is maintained that every altruistic act is, if not in its motives, always in its Maternal love, for example, leads to elTects egoistic. the happiness of the mollur through her own selfThe pre-Spencerian (hedonistic) schools sacrili<e. have posili'd either self or thi' othiT as the fountainhead of moral conduct. Comti' virtually reverted to the fundamental thought of the Knglish moralists

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