Altruism (AL-troo-iz-um)
Origin
Coined in French as altruisme by philosopher Auguste Comte in the 19th century. Comte created the term to express the idea of living or acting for the benefit of others rather than exclusively for oneself.
Language Root
French autrui (“other people, others”), ultimately from Latin alter (“other, the other of two”). The English altruism was adopted from French.
Original Meaning
Concern for and devotion to the welfare of other people; placing the interests of others alongside or above one’s own.
Evolution Over Time
Comte developed altruism as an ethical counterpart to egoism and made concern for others central to his social philosophy. The concept later became important in ethics, psychology, sociology, economics, and evolutionary biology. Different fields now debate whether genuinely selfless behavior exists and how apparently altruistic behavior can arise through empathy, cooperation, kin selection, reciprocal relationships, social norms, or other mechanisms.
Modern Usage
Selfless or strongly other-directed concern for the well-being of others, often expressed through helping, generosity, sacrifice, or cooperation without requiring personal reward.
Word Family
Altruism, Altruist, Altruistic, Altruistically
Related Concept
Empathy, Compassion, Cooperation, Generosity, Selflessness, Egoism, Sacrifice, Prosocial Behavior, Reciprocity, Kin Selection, Evolution, Ethics, Morality, Auguste Comte, Human Nature
Narrative
Humans compete—but we also help. We give time to strangers. We protect people we love. We donate resources we could have kept. Sometimes we even risk ourselves for someone else. Auguste Comte gave this orientation a name: altruism. Since then, philosophers and scientists have wrestled with a fascinating question: if helping another person makes us feel good, is the act still truly selfless? Altruism sits at the intersection of morality, empathy, cooperation, evolution, and human nature—and asks how much of ourselves we are willing to give for someone else.