Discussion of Whether Altruism Really Exists

Altruism is a type of helping behavior, which largely involves helping someone without any expectation of compensation or mutual benefit for the action. Even when helping others may cause us to stand at high risk or bring us some disadvantages, people are still willing to promote someone else’s welfare (Cambridge Dictionary). In other words, altruism also means selflessness or unselfishness.

Debate on the Existence of True Altruism

In my opinion, true altruism exists in our lives. On January 2, 2007, a 50-year-old man named Wesley Autrey jumped down onto the tracks of a New York City subway platform as a train was approaching to save a man who had suffered a seizure and fallen (Buckley, 2017). At that moment, Mr. Autrey lay on him, pressing the man down in a space that was only about a foot deep. Before the train stopped, five cars rolled overhead Mr. Autrey and the man, passing inches from their heads. We could imagine that the action of Mr. Autrey was very dangerous and risky. One misstep could have led to his death. Mr. Autrey put himself at high risk. But why did he do it? He could have stood by with folded arms, but he decided to rescue the man, even though the man was just a stranger. Moreover, Mr. Autrey rejected medical help because he said he just wanted to help someone in trouble; he just did what he felt was right and did not need any praise or honor. Mr. Autrey’s action strongly proves that altruism exists in our lives.

Organ Donation as an Altruistic Act

Donating organs is also one of the purely altruistic acts (Strassburger, n.d.). There are almost 114,000 people waiting for transplants, and one more person is added every 10 minutes, with an average of 20 people dying per day because no organs are available (American Transplant Foundation, n.d.). Everyone will die one day, so it is better to donate organs to save other lives than to let them go to waste. This is why some people are willing to donate their organs to ease someone else’s pain. A 21-year-old young man suffered brain damage after a car accident. His family agreed to donate his organs to other patients who needed transplants around the country. The young man donated five organs in total and saved six lives. At first, the young man’s mother did not consent to donate his organs, but his father and other family members persuaded her. The young man’s father said that although his son was gone, his life could continue in a second form through the donation of organs. His father’s words really shocked me, because it is not easy to make this choice, and not everyone could accept donating organs after death. From the father’s words, it is evident that pure altruism truly exists in our daily lives.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both examples of Wesley Autrey's heroic act and the selflessness of organ donors illustrate that altruism is a genuine and significant part of human behavior. These actions highlight the profound impact of altruism, not only on the individuals directly involved but also on society as a whole. Altruism, as a concept, continues to inspire and challenge us to look beyond our own needs and consider the well-being of others.

References

Buckley, C. (2017, January 3). Subway hero saves stranger. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/03/nyregion/03hero.html

Strassburger, E. (n.d.). Altruism in organ donation. Retrieved from https://www.organtransplantfoundation.org/articles/altruism-in-organ-donation

American Transplant Foundation. (n.d.). Facts about organ donation. Retrieved from https://www.americantransplantfoundation.org/about-transplant/facts-and-myths/

Cambridge Dictionary. (n.d.). Altruism. Retrieved from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/altruism