Altruism involves putting the interests of others above one’s own interests. It is altruism that forms the basis of the meaning of life itself, which is to live for others. People are not inevitably driven by self-interest. This can be seen just in the simple case of a mother putting her baby’s interests above her own, protecting him even if her own safety is threatened. It is seen every day when people risk their lives to rescue others. That is what makes us as human beings so special - we are willing to die for other members of our species, and many of us recognise that just one human life is worth more than all the material possessions in the world.

Altruism should inform all of our thinking and actions, as this will ensure maximum collective happiness. It will also make us better individuals, as it will rid us of selfishness and encourage us to think about the circumstances of others.

We do first need to care about others before we can even be motivated to help them out of problems such as war and poverty. If we are to care about other people, it follows from this that we must be open-minded and receptive to other people and their experiences. We cannot maintain insularity amongst a few people while closing ourselves off to others, as understanding is only generated by being open to different people and their stories and experiences. We need to be open-minded if we want to understand this world, and do something to change it for the benefit of us all.