Abraham Maslow popularized the concept of self-actualization as a process an individual undergoes through life. He believed that most mentally healthy individuals follow a path called growth motivation that allowed them to self-actualize and realize their true potential as they grow older and mature. Maslow's theory of self-actualization is synonymous with seminal psychological, philosophical, and religious theories that support the noble human transition from selfindulgence to selflessness and altruism. This article draws correlations between these theories to demonstrate the significance of Maslow's theory and to develop a need-based activity chart that individuals can follow throughout their lifecycle on the path to self-actualization.
Altruism is generally accepted to be the practice of unselfish concern for the well-being of others coupled with an associated measure of personal cost. Altruism as an actionable treatise for living aims to benefit society. While altruistic acts have traditionally been viewed as virtuous, in some cases, positive outcomes might not be forthcoming if the actor is not enlightened about the consequences of specific courses of action. While this precept has been argued extensively in historical commentary, no formal definition exists for it. This article terms this concept as 'unenlightened altruism'. The article reviews the scant extant discourse on 'unenlightened altruism' in scholarly literature, provides a formal definition for the ideology, opines consequentialist implications and correlates it to related ethical constructs. From the consequentialist standpoint, it is argued that it might be more ethical not to act than to act out of unenlightened altruism.
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