Richard Robb on Willful

Altruism Types

Richard Robb explores the complexity of altruism, breaking it down into categories like 'selfish altruism' and 'care altruism.' He argues that while some acts may appear selfless, they often have underlying motives such as virtue signaling or social norms. Robb uses examples like a mother's care for her child to illustrate how altruism can be both purposeful and deeply ingrained in our utility functions 1.

Sometimes we'll make an altruistic gesture that isn't the best one just because someone is in front of us. We're a human being.

--- Richard Robb

This perspective challenges the notion that all altruistic acts are purely selfless, suggesting instead that they often involve a complex interplay of personal and social factors 2.

   

Mercy & Kindness

The discussion shifts to mercy and spontaneous acts of kindness as forms of altruism. Robb describes mercy as an act that defies rational calculation, existing "for itself" rather than as a means to an end 3. He shares a story of a woman holding a door open despite being in a hurry, highlighting how such gestures reflect a deeper human impulse to connect and care 4.

Mercy can't come out of a formula. It just has to happen.

--- Richard Robb

These acts, while seemingly irrational, enrich our humanity by prioritizing empathy over efficiency, challenging the mechanistic view of human behavior often promoted in economic theory.