Altruistic Observations

Altruism is a fundamental concern of the philosophy of objectivism. As originally created and developed, it is quite different from the contemporary interpretations that most individuals hold. They feel confident in their own versions, but should they be? Would it not be more relevant if we thought and spoke of the concept in its original form? At least until we achieve understanding and move on to create multiple versions that in most cases rarely resemble the initial version. This is a single set of observations, certainly influenced by the work of Ayn Rand and the resultant philosophy of objectivism.

Let us never forget Auguste Comte, who first penned the term, and developed the concept. He was very specific in his intent and his expectations. He wanted to change the world. He hoped to improve nothing less than our entire species. I find it inarguable that the need exists, but cannot promote or condone doing so in such a coercive fashion. It is for each of us to determine, for ourselves, exactly what it was that constituted what he envisioned, and come to our own conclusions if his intent was credible or legitimate.

My own perspective is that it was not, primarily because of the presence of the aforementioned coercion. Nothing achieved through force results in a viable outcome, and yet, while he did not promote coercive measures, he acknowledged that they may well be necessary to achieve the desired consequences, and that was perfectly acceptable to him. The state was his means, and the introduction of altruism was his end, and whatever brought about that inevitability was not only desirable from his perspective but an essential fundamental.

History shows us, fortunately, that his efforts were unsuccessful, and yet he leaves a legacy that perverts charity and goodwill, and has resulted in a contradictory paradigm where coercion and oppression are perceived as a positive influence on those that are not capable of coming to their own conclusions. I find that to be detrimental to that rejuvenation of the morality of mankind that Comte sought. Simply another example of a distorted perversion of good intent that ultimately did not solve the problems that plague us, but only excaserbate the issues to the point of irrationality and self-destruction.