Does "Self-Sacrifice" really exist?

[bluedes]

Don’t Fool Yourself, Self-Sacrifice Does NOT Exist

I could be wrong, I often am, but in my humble opinion, and in my ever tweaking paradigm of the world, there is no such thing as self-sacrifice. It just doesn’t exist. Sure, on the superficial level, you may look at a person and see a martyr. If you allow me to show you the deeper layers, I will attempt to persuade you otherwise.
Self-sacrifice is defined as:

The act of deliberately following a course of action that has a high risk or certainty of suffering or death (which could otherwise be avoided), in order to achieve a perceived benefit for certain others.

I’m partially agreeing with this statement. There may indeed be a perceivedbenefit to certain others. However, the truth of the matter is, there is an underlying unperceived benefit to the self. If indeed there is benefit to the self, than this act is not really a “self-sacrifice”. The reason it’s not a true sacrifice is because something of higher value is obtained.

What can you possibly get out of being a kamakazee, or suicide bomber?


At first glance, it seems like dieing for your country, or your god, is a purely selfless act. A self-sacrifice if you will. You could have just as easily NOT killed yourself, and been alive. On the surface it’s easy to see that by destroying themselves, and taking the enemy with them, they are attempting to help their country, family, or god.


There is of course an underlying reason for all of this. They want to feel like heroes, like someone important, like someone that their country, family, or god will approve of. They want that approval, and for it they are ready to commit not only the life of their enemy, but their own life as well. This isn’t called self-sacrifice, it’s called paying too much to feel good about yourself for a short time.

What about the mother that would sacrifice her life, for the life of her child?


Is that, or is it not self-sacrifice? On the surface, she is giving up her ability to live freely and prosper, in order to save a life of another. It seems like the ultimate noble act of self-sacrifice. I’m not going to argue if it is or isn’t noble. It very well may be. However, let’s take a look at what would happen if she just let her child die, when there was something (anything!) she could do to save him.


She would spend the rest of her life grieving, and miserable, and regretting the fact that her love, her child, was taken from her, and how it should have been her in it’s place. So, in a split second of maternal instinct, she pushed her child away from the oncoming car and positioning herself in his place. What she gave up wasn’t just a life, but a life of misery. She died for that self-approval, of knowing she did the right thing for herself, and for her child. Not exactly self-sacrifice, as much as a delicately balanced give and take.


There is NO self-sacrifice.


I stand by my opinion, that there is no such thing as self-sacrifice. I do encourage you to voice your opinion, or bring up any examples in which you think self-sacrifice does in fact exist. The comment box below is open for you!

[LIBER777]

YES BOSING IT EXIST!

Best known example

Christ has offered for all times
a single sacrifice for sins and
has taken his seat at the right
hand of God.

Depende man gud Bosing
Stay with your Girlfriend
In 10 years we call it also
A self sacrifice for unconditional
Love.

PARA LANG NI NAKO BOSING HA !
AYAW LANG KOG HAPSE hehehe

[Egoist]

naa man bai,, na.influence kang ayn rand? the virtue of selfishness familiar?
thomas hobbes pud advocate nag.selfishness lain lang sa kang ayn rand
naa gyud na bai uy

[regnauld]

Are you saying Jesus did not sacrifice himself on the cross to save us from sin bluedes? Well, its just symbolic after all this Jesus story!

[cromagnon]

maybe we live for others and others would live for us. but not to the point where u no longer have time for urself or even lose urself.

jose rizal made a good job though. but like in the movies, if u know u're gonna die, then better die with purpose.

[Traditz]

yes, it obviously exists. ako example pud kay kana'ng sa ato'ng mga mama. self-sacrifice man na di ba? iya gi-sacrifice iya comforts para sa iya'ng mga anak. iya'ng gi-una ang interest sa iya'ng mga anak, secondary na lang ang iya'ng kaugalingon nga interest.

[Traditz]

Quote: Originally Posted by regnauld Are you saying Jesus did not sacrifice himself on the cross to save us from sin bluedes? Well, its just symbolic after all this Jesus story!

kung symbolic lang ang kamatayun ni Jesus, dili jud na nato matawag nga sacrifice. maayo na lang ka'y dili symbolic iya'ng kamatayun, so naa ta'y higayun nga ma-save sa ato'ng mga sala.

[Traditz]

Quote: Originally Posted by cromagnon maybe we live for others and others would live for us. but not to the point where u no longer have time for urself or even lose urself. jose rizal made a good job though. but like in the movies, if u know u're gonna die, then better die with purpose.

maybe ang idea sa "self-sacrifice" kay dili jud total sacrifice as in total eradication sa self. ang idea kay i-sacrifice nimo imo'ng kaugaligun para ma-save pud nimo imo'ng kaugalingon, o sa inengles pa, you sacrifice your self in order to save your self. you give up your self in order to find your self. paradox siya og pareho siya sa gitudlo ni Jesus.

[bluedes]

i am just posting here, i want to know what istoryans has got to say..

[KASAAC]

It does exist and as a matter of fact, the ultimate reason why it exist is LOVE.

[grovestreet]

ayn rand's philosophy... nindot sad basahon.

[bluedes]

Quote: Originally Posted by KASAAC It does exist and as a matter of fact, the ultimate reason why it exist is LOVE.

LOVE in the highest form..

Not love in a relationship or just for the sake of belongingness..

[j.alob]

Wala mana gi tugot ni Lord.

[kit_cebu]

well, to istoryans who believe in "after-life", how about you be some kind of symbolic being sacrifice and do us a favor of proving it?

[bluedes]

everyday life involves some form of self-sacrifice. when we do not mind anymore how we benefit from our actions and deeds, but continue to do something because it will benefit the good of humanity, that is self-sacrifice..

example: being honest even when others are not.