Altruism as an irresistible force

101:


Earth repair and the repair of our ethics are not only needed to counter all the damage we humans have done but also to reverse the habitual violence and violation we are so used to practising. Altruism might in that repair.

But first we need to discover if altruism can work for us on an individual level, by applying it to our own daily habits, not the least of which is the most damaging habit we have, of ignoring animals when buying and eating food. This is one of the many gestures-of-altruism we need to make, without waiting around for others to go first. It’s up to us to bite the same bullet we accuse others of not biting.

Say, for ethical and environmental reasons, we decide to go vegan - it’s up to us to find out if it is safe, food, diet, lifestyle, etc, then be happy to take on more than our fair share of responsibility, to experiment with both food and with our altruistic side. The repairing-ness of altruism is in making violence redundant. It gives humanity a different type of attitude and motivation, which helps us get ready for an entirely different type of world.

However, big repair needs big numbers of people, perhaps even armies of advocates ... not just a willing few. Today numbers are growing, but slowly (although we read today that a Gallup poll taken recently in America is showing the 2% of all adults are vegans, a statistic which is incredibly encouraging). Humans drag their heels because it seems like such a big step to take, to become vegan and then to go on to advocate for non-violence.

For each advocate there must be motivation, strong enough to withstand anything thrown at us. Altruism must be potentially strong enough to dissolve our value judgements of others, and strong enough to step aside from violence and vilification.

Repairing and healing are not immediately for our benefit but initially for the animals. And that shift away from first thinking of ourselves and humanity and only afterwards thinking of our victims, requires a true revolution in our thinking which only altruism can help with.