Philosophical question

[kellinator]

Does it really count as a good deed when you do something for someone and it helps you as much as it helps them? I think Kant had something to say about this, if I remember my freshman-year philosophy correctly...

Not that it matters. I feel most worthy of this life when I'm helping, especially my friends. I haven't been around much lately, so I send *hugs* to all of those having hard times that I haven't gotten support to. You are all cared for.

I said to my mom a couple months back, "I figured out why I'm here... it's to help people. The problem is, people don't want my help."

Am I a nurturer? I think so. But I need to be needed, in a way that sometimes makes me wonder if I'm a vampire or an enabler or something worse. I hope not. I try to nurture, and I hope to heaven I do a good job.

Comments

Re: Philosophical question

[wolfieboy.livejournal.com]

Does it really count as a good deed when you do something for someone and it helps you as much as it helps them?

Definitely. It also means you're smart. After all the best I can think of to get somebody to repeat a good deed *to* me is if it benefits them too...

[kmeghan.livejournal.com]

I know how you feel.. I feel like I should help, but I dont really want to. I guess I'm not one to actually help one on one. I donate money, food and clothing. I tried to donate blood during the whole 9/11 thing, but the red cross won't take my blood( i lived in England for three years in the 80's). So at least i do make a difference. I am planning on doing the walk for diabetes next weekend though. so that might be nice.

[fourtines.livejournal.com]

It has been said that to love others you must first love yourself. I personally see no fallacy in helping others and getting something out of it for yourself. It beats the heck out of stepping on other people to help yourself...

Perhaps you should just focus your need to nurture somewhere specifically productive, in such a way that you wouldn't feel that by helping you were being an "enabler" or anything with a negative, co-dependant connotation. Have you considered going into one of the "helping professions", such as medicine, day care, teaching, or drug rehabilitation counseling?

I don't believe that there is such a thing as being selfless. I think even Mother Theresa helped so many because she got a special, inner glow for herself from doing it.

[kellinator.livejournal.com]

Every little bit helps!

[kellinator.livejournal.com]

I definitely want and need to find and make the time for a more organized form of helping. (though I don't think I'm specifically enabling anyone right now, per se, I can certainly see how I may have in the past...) I think you may be on to something with the selfless bit. And what does it matter why we help as long as we do it?

Re: Philosophical question

[kellinator.livejournal.com]

Then why don't we have a lot more good deeds going around? Oh well...

[funkjunky.livejournal.com]

Kant was a fool