Altruistic Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Abstract

Altruism is unselfish concern for other people’s happiness, welfare, and well-being. If an individual’s behavior or motives are altruistic, one shows concern for the happiness and welfare of other people rather than just for oneself. One is selfless and not selfish. To express it in another way, altruism is the renunciation of the self and an exclusive concern and care for the welfare of others. It is a traditional virtue in many cultures and a core aspect of various religious traditions. Giving alms to the poor is often considered an altruistic action in many cultures and religions. Altruism is also a motivation to provide a value to a party who must be anyone but the self, while duty and loyalty are somewhat moral obligation of a person toward a specific individual (God or a king) or collective body (a government). Some individuals may feel both altruism and duty, while others may not. Pure altruism is an instinctively “giving” value without any regard to rewards or the benefits that recognition of the giving may bring. The term altruism may also refer to an ethical doctrine that claims that individuals are morally obliged to benefit others. Used in this sense, it is the opposite of egoism.