is helping people a noble act

[sheetalstyle]

Does helping people fall under the category of doing noble deeds?

[SimSailorNick]

For me it does. d^_^b

[Sage]

If helping someone doesn't count as a noble deed, I'm not really sure what does. Also, requested move to ROTW.

[Magus]

If helping someone doesn't count as a noble deed, I'm not really sure what does. Also, requested move to ROTW.

I think this bub is actually a bot: Persona Killed Anima (http://www.virtualteen.org/forums/showthread.php?t=78281)

I think.

[Triceratops]

:arrow: Moving to ROTW.

[Jess]

of course it is, what else would it be?

[INFERNO]

In most cases I'd say it is although in some I'd say it isn't, such as helping people get their drug fix by selling them the drug. But in other cases, such as pulling someone out of the way of a speeding car, I say it is. What do you mean though by helping people? Can you give some examples please?.

[Death]

My initial response to this question is of course it is, but I suppose it depends on who you're helping. Helping a serial killer to kill hundreds of people is hardly noble, for instance. So, it depends on the circumstances. But under most circumstances, I'd say that it is a noble act.

[darkwoon]

I'd say the "noble" character of the act depends on the intend behind the act. There is nothing noble helping somebody if I did it to push my own personal advantage; on the other hand, if I put myself in a less favourable position to help somebody else, then for sure it is a noble act.

[CaptainObvious]

In most cases I'd say it is although in some I'd say it isn't, such as helping people get their drug fix by selling them the drug. But in other cases, such as pulling someone out of the way of a speeding car, I say it is. What do you mean though by helping people? Can you give some examples please?.

One would assume your first example would be covered by specifying what "help" means, and noting that someone can want something that is not helpful to them.

I'd say the "noble" character of the act depends on the intend behind the act. There is nothing noble helping somebody if I did it to push my own personal advantage; on the other hand, if I put myself in a less favourable position to help somebody else, then for sure it is a noble act.

This. It all depends on the intent of the act. For example, would a helpful act still be noble if the person were doing it for their own gain? I don't think so: helping an old woman across the street is not noble if you're being paid $1000 for it; helping a person write a will would not be a noble deed if your intent was to get more favorable treatment in that will for yourself. More generally, I think you could argue that a deed is not noble unless it is done out of a sense of moral compulsion absent any reward (including the reward of feeling good because you helped someone). This is the deontological perspective: deeds are only noble if they are done out of a sense of ethical duty. I think it is a perspective that has many philosophical strengths.

[Clawhammer]

I sure hope it does, otherwise I wasted a lot of my life so far.

[Insanity Fair]

I sure hope it does, otherwise I wasted a lot of my life so far.

You're saying that you wouldn't have helped those people you helped if it wasn't considered noble?

[CaptainObvious]

You're saying that you wouldn't have helped those people you helped if it wasn't considered noble?

Or, depending on your point of view, that what he did wasn't noble in the first place since apparently others considering it noble is a precondition for him to consider it having been worthwhile.

[Insanity Fair]

Or, depending on your point of view, that what he did wasn't noble in the first place since apparently others considering it noble is a precondition for him to consider it having been worthwhile.

Therefore he was expecting reputation out of said acts of helpfulness. In which case although he did help people which is better then him not having helped people his "nobility" is fraud.

[Skeln]

It all depends on the type of help you provide. It's a noble deed if it's for a noble couse.

[The Dark Lord]

It depends on the circumstances, for example hoovering the house to help your mum isn't noble but saving somebody's live is. It also depends on your defination of noble