15th February 2026
Austin has more curly questions for the community asking about “the self in selflessness”. He would like to explore together whether acts of altruism driven by self-interest (personal satisfaction, avoiding guilt, gaining rewards) have genuine moral worth. Drawing on ethical theories, human nature, and practical scenarios, we explore how our motives shape our morality and meaning-making.
In preparation, Austin has asked us the following questions:
1. Think of a time you did something helpful but also benefited from it. Did your benefit make the act less good?
2. Would you rather: (A) Someone helps you because they genuinely care, or (B) Someone helps you to feel good about themselves? What is the difference if the help you receive is identical?