altruism
Concern for others
Altruism is concern for the welfare of others, often at cost to oneself.
The term implies unselfish motivation—helping without expectation of reward: pure altruism is rare in politics.
In biology, altruism describes behavior that benefits another organism while reducing the actor's own fitness.
The adjective is altruistic: an altruistic gesture.
Prioritizing others over oneself
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
- unselfishnessConcern for others' welfare
- self-sacrificeSurrendering for others' benefit
- self-denialRestraining one's own desires
self-abnegation · disinterestedness · nobility · magnanimity · goodwill · benevolence · big-heartedness · kindheartedness
Concern for others' distress
- empathySharing another's emotions
- sympathyCompassionate understanding of others
- caringShowing kind concern
- kindnessConsiderate, caring disposition
mercy · tenderness · warmth · humanity · sensitivity · concern · solicitude · consideration
Voluntary charitable gift
- benefactorOne who gives aid
- endowmentPermanent donated fund
- giftItem given freely
- grantsAwarded funds for purposes
scholarship · patronage · contribution · sponsorship · subsidy · tithe · bequest · largesse
Giving service without pay
- charityVoluntary aid for others
- donationVoluntary charitable gift
- helpingSingle portion given
- serviceAid or maintenance
assistance · aid · support · community · outreach · mentorship · advocacy · relief
Support given freely
- reliefEasing of distress
- volunteerUnpaid willing participant
- NGOIndependent charitable organization
- UNICEFGlobal youth relief organization
development · advocacy · activism · shelter · refugees · peacekeeping · Oxfam
Moral goodness or merit
- moralityRight and wrong principles
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
- rectitudeMoral straightness
- principleFundamental truth or standard
conscience · duty · obligation · utilitarian · consequentialist · deontological · Kantian · normative
Shared between two parties
- cooperationJoint action toward shared aims
- mutualismTwo-way biological benefit
- HamiltonFirst Treasury secretary
- sociobiologyStudy of inherited social behaviors
evolutionary · genetic · eusocial · adaptive
selflessness
Prioritizing others over oneself
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
- unselfishnessConcern for others' welfare
- self-sacrificeSurrendering for others' benefit
self-denial · self-abnegation · disinterestedness · nobility · magnanimity · goodwill · benevolence · big-heartedness · kindheartedness · fellow-feeling
compassion
Concern for others' distress
- empathySharing another's emotions
- sympathyCompassionate understanding of others
- caringShowing kind concern
kindness · mercy · tenderness · warmth · humanity · sensitivity · concern · solicitude · consideration · love
donation
Voluntary charitable gift
- benefactorOne who gives aid
- endowmentPermanent donated fund
- giftItem given freely
grants · scholarship · patronage · contribution · sponsorship · subsidy · tithe · bequest · largesse · munificence
volunteering
Giving service without pay
service · assistance · aid · support · community · outreach · mentorship · advocacy · relief · fundraising
aid
Support given freely
UNICEF · development · advocacy · activism · shelter · refugees · peacekeeping · Oxfam
virtue
Moral goodness or merit
- moralityRight and wrong principles
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
- rectitudeMoral straightness
principle · conscience · duty · obligation · utilitarian · consequentialist · deontological · Kantian · normative
reciprocal
Shared between two parties
- cooperationJoint action toward shared aims
- mutualismTwo-way biological benefit
- HamiltonFirst Treasury secretary
sociobiology · evolutionary · genetic · eusocial · adaptive
- Volunteeringvolunteer, volunteering, volunteer hours, unpaid work, volunteer coordinators
- Buddhist virtuesdana, generosity, morality, patience, perseverance
- Jewish valuestikkun olam, mussar, shalom, simcha, honoring parents
- animal behavioranimal behavior, instincts, learned behavior, conditioning, social behavior
- valuesvalue, honesty, worth, fairness, morals
- beliefsbelief, beliefs, creed, creeds, faith
altruismselfishness
Excessive concern for oneself
egoism · self-interest · self-seeking · egotism · self-centeredness
altruismegoism
Doctrine of self-motivation
greed · avarice · covetousness · misanthropy · callousness
altruismgreed
Excessive desire for wealth
stinginess · miserliness · avarice · meanness · mercenariness
- altruistic behaviorActions benefiting others freely