To think the only truly altruistic act a person can do

[Normalisavariantofcrazy]

Is to donate organs after death because there is no gain for you as an individual

Been discussing it with DH and he says I'm wrong but can't find an argument why I'm wrong

Happy to be told IABU on this!

Hah, this reminds me of a similar Friends episode...

Is it really you being altruistic though? You could argue that it's the family who actually gives the go ahead to organ harvesting, albeit because they believe they are carrying out your wishes.

(Just being Devil's advocate)

There may be "gain", if you believe that this final act will get you a place in Heaven (or where ever).

I'm Buddhist-ish, so I believe that intent is everything, so it is the intent behind the act.

Youay have been a bastard, but want people to have something nice to say about you, so donate your organs.

I admired Mother Theresa, but her motivation was that the good deeds that she did whilst here, ensured her a "eternal life at the Lords side", although she went beyond what she needed to do, out of mere duty.

You have asked a very deep question for AIBU.

But planning to do that whilst still alive and particularly sharing your intentions to do so could be seen as wanting to boost your ego/garner attention

Depends. I'd agree that it was truly altruistic is you are dead and don't know about it, but there is personal gain to be found if you know you are going to be an organ donor.

It isn't your choice though, it's your next of kins choice, although you can express a preference it really isn't down to you.

But if I agree now to allow my organs to be donated I can enjoy the warm feeling of being generous so it is in my interest. Also I could start threads with titles like "AIBU to think that people like me who donate organs are really wonderful" :)

So you can't do anything completely altruistically.

But, it doesn't matter. The important point is that people who get a kick out of doing something good are still better than people who only get pleasure from hurting others. It may not be true altruism, but it's nearly as good.

I was also thinking of the friends episode!

What about a single person with no living parents or children giving their life to save someone else they don't know well?

There's no loss to you as an individual either, so I can't really see what's altruistic about it.

It's not at all altruistic if you feel good about the potential those organs have, or if you know anyone who loves you may be uncomfortable with it.

So i think YABU.

I am donating my body to medical science for purely selfish reasons. I am not afraid of death, but don't want to be buried or cremated alive and figure that the more I am examined and poked about with, the less likely this is to happen.

That's quite dark thinking ledare!

if you were seemingly dead the medical students would get a shock!

There's no loss for you as an individual either, because you're dead, so surely it's a neutral act?

OP yabu

1. You would be dead, can't be altruistic, or anything, if dead.
2. It's relatives who would take the decision, so being altruistic.
3. Signing organ donor register, like other giving/promises, isn't wholly altruistic.

it's not altruistic though as Woo says.

isn't it giving your life to save someone else. so an act of complete sacrifice and bravery.

if you donate organs after you are dead well you are dead anyway so you don't need them do you?

Sacrificing your life to save another person is truly altruistic. As for the organs after death - you are dead anyway so what thebody said!

Ledaire will that include your skeleton?

Altruism is overrated. Some people place it on a pedestal as evidence for our innate goodness, true humanity, whatever. Bobbins. Altruism = improved survival and evolving (biologically and socially) so that altruism creates lovely feel good factors is ideal. Hence, I refuse to analyse the why of it, as if there needs to be a higher reason.

Take the feel good stuff and run with it, it's what Darwin would have wanted!

I agree that it's not altruistic as you aren't really 'doing' anything - you're dead, you have no motivation and there is no hardship for you as an individual either. Also, does this mean that those who are on the organ donor register but aren't able to donate (for whatever reason) are less altruistic than those who do?

My religion teaches that burying someone (a stranger) when they've died is the most altruistic thing you can do, as a dead person can't return/repay the favor.

You can be altruistic if the pain to you is greater than the gain. People have thrown themselves on grenades and died to save other lives.

My Dad wished to donate his body to medical science but no-one wanted it so we cremated him instead. He would have been really pissed off if he'd known!

"Altruism" is a funny old thing. I'm on the organ donor register too. But am I doing it out of true altruism? Not sure I am. I am on there because the idea of my organs going to waste, in the event they're salvageable that is, when other lives could be saved (and other families saved grief) gives me emotional pain.

In order to save myself that unhappiness and fear, I carry around a little plastic card.

People often tell me I'm nice. I'm not really. I just happen to have ended up being wired in such a way (nature/nurture/exposure to philosophic rambling) that other people's sadness makes me sad. So I try to solve their problems in order to stop my sympathy (funny)bone being twanged!

I didn't know you could be buddhist- ISH, Birdsgottafly

"I didn't know you could be buddhist- ISH, Birdsgottafly "

I'm just being really honest and I know that every intent I have isn't the best, so whilst I am Vegan, meditate, believe the teaching, try to apply them moment by moment.

I have a work to do before I can say that "I am a Buddhist".

I have a work to do before I can say that "I am a Buddhist"

I think I understand that, a bit.