BBC

A History of Ideas: Selfless Love

Aidan Turner on Selfless Love

Does pure altruism exist? Or are apparently altruistic acts simply manifestations of complex self interest? Psychological Egoists such as Thomas Hobbes and Evolutionary Biologists like Richards Dawkins believe there is no altruism. People doing such acts always have something to gain, whether it’s a warm feeling inside to some genetic advantage. But are there situations where people do show pure altruism?

Want to hear more on this topic?

Here’s the whole episode from A History of Ideas – Theologian Giles Fraser on Altruism.

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