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Altruism

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Encyclopedia of Global Bioethics

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Abstract

Altruism has a long history both as a moral ideal and an ethical practice; it has developed into an area of significant interest in the domain of bioethics. This article examines the historical background of altruism as a philosophical concept, the varying definitions of altruism, its significance to bioethical debate and inquiry, and the moral duties of health care professionals. A conceptual analysis of altruism is supported by a discussion of contemporary cases in health care where altruism plays a pivotal role. Specific attention is given to the importance of altruism in research participation and organ donation and the response of health professionals to epidemics and disasters. Altruism as a bioethical concept has global implications, particularly when attempting to understand the many factors that underpin the caring response of health professionals and the general public to the complex health needs of others.

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Further Readings

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Acknowledgment

The author thanks Verena Tschudin and Leesa Wisby for their assistance with earlier drafts of this entry.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia

    Leila Toiviainen

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  1. Leila Toiviainen
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Correspondence to Leila Toiviainen .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Duquesne University Center for Healthcare Ethics, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Henk ten Have

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Toiviainen, L. (2015). Altruism. In: ten Have, H. (eds) Encyclopedia of Global Bioethics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-05544-2_18-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-05544-2_18-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-05544-2

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