> Generosity

Generosity

I will use my surplus time and money to provide a benefit to other people now and in the future.

A typical wish

This supports the Disaster Relief ideal: "In my ideal world, people will help me when I need it and I will help others."

It also supports a variety of other ideals that can only be achieved by cooperative effort. There are so many different kinds of "wishes" that can be fulfilled by generosity, that we cannot make a complete list here!

If each person applies their spare resources to worthwhile initiatives, the entire society is brought to a state of greater happiness.

How do I cast my vote?

Each person may cast a vote for a kinder world by using their surplus time and money to help others. If the help is bestowed upon worthy, naturally kind people, then the generosity will spread. It spreads because the helped people become capable of helping yet more people.

This is the "expanding wave of generousity." It's like the ripples that spread outward from a pebble thrown into a still pond.

Moreover, we can not only help the people of today, but the people of tomorrow as well. We can do that by applying generosity to education and to scientific pursuits, so that the capabilities of society will be increased over time.

When there are problems in the world of crime and war, generosity is one means that can be used in support of peace. This is demonstrated by a computer simulation that shows an evolutionary advantage for peace-making and generous behavior. You can read about this at the Project NewWorld Software for Windows download page.

You may also find it interesting to read about the evolutionary advantage of altruism. There is a tendency for the more highly evolved animals to help each other, which also helps to explain why motives for kindness and generosity have evolved in humans as well.

Discretion in the application of generosity

Each generous person has limited resources, so application of the person's generousity to one charitable cause may preclude applying it to another. Help first those who you are uniquely positioned to help. (Eg: Sometimes a person needs help and you are the only person nearby who could help, or you are the only person who available who has the appropriate skills.)

Typically generosity is something you plan for, so that you reserve some of your spare time or money. You don't have to be doing generous acts every moment. You can use the ethics checklist on this site to answer questions about you about what you propose to do now. In general, there will always be things that can be done to improve the world, and it can be very satisfying to feel like you are making a difference, even if it is a small one.

For some suggestions of things you could help with, look at the charities reference on this web site.

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