Altruism

Altruism is "otherism" or "elseism", the placement of at least one OTHER thing (or something ELSE) above oneself (one's own self, life, existence, interests, desires, values, wellbeing). Most people in all societies have been mostly altruistic throughout most of history. Usually, the "other(s)" who they placed above themselves were god(s), king(s), chieftains, shamans, patriarchs, parents, etc., but could be extended to cover nearly everyone and everything else, so as to put themselves utterly last. This last sense of altruism is also known as charity or selflessness. Ironically, it takes a certain measure of selfishness in order to work hard and be competitive, yet cynical demanding rulers (overlords) often demanded both from their underlings, i.e. high performance coupled with total devotion (altruism, or subservience). Even today, some corporate, religious, nationalist, militarist, or other conservative systems mandate (require; enforce) this contradictory outlook of "morality".

In more modern times, most people have been partially altruistic, as in being charitable to the needy but otherwise neutral or even slightly egoistic (selfish). Very few, however, honestly and openly (explictly) describe themselves as being total egoists or selfists (Ayn Rand was one of the few who did).

More moderate altruists (and/or advocates of a mixed-ethics, similar to and often overlapping with the advocates of a mixed-economy of "capitalism" and "socialism") have noted that a generalized, limited altruism or collectivism (which still STRONGLY GUARANTEES certain individual rights!) is in fact basically one and the same as enlightened self-interest (or "rational egoism").

An even more recent, nascent deveopment is that of a "more moderate" (rational/realistic/practical/survivalist) egoism, which, though still advocating a pure motivation of egoism (and/or "hedonism"), nevertheless fully realizes that one's own best interests are often at one with those of the majority of everyone else (the rest of one's community, locality, region, nation, humanity, ecosystem, biosphere, planet, solar system, galaxy, etc.), so that to go in a contrary direction only for temporary, short-sighted, or dellusional self-gain is ultimately a net loss (or at least risk/danger) to one's self. This egoism (or selfist survialism is objective and realist enough to encompass many (if not all) of the same goals as humanism, humanitarianism, globalism, limited socialism (mixed economy), and environmentalism.