When I say ‘our culture’, I mean modern WEIRD culture, especially the English-speaking world. Here’s what I notice: when I declare that I’m doing something selfishly and avowedly, I get praised. When I do something out of altruism, or do something that is coded as altruistic, my motives and true values get heavily scrutinized. The assumption is that I’m doing good in order to accrue praise and social status, which is called ‘ulterior motives.’
Are you sure you’re describing WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic) culture? Because, my anecdotal evidence, as a resident of the United States, has been the diametric opposite. Actions taken for altruistic motives get very little scrutiny, even when it turns out that they have little benefit (or actively cause harm).
Indeed, the very existence of the Effective Altruism movement is designed to correct for this bias, by applying the same standards for effectiveness and efficiency to actions carried for altruistic ends that we normally apply to “selfish” actions.
Are you sure you’re describing WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic) culture? Because, my anecdotal evidence, as a resident of the United States, has been the diametric opposite. Actions taken for altruistic motives get very little scrutiny, even when it turns out that they have little benefit (or actively cause harm).
Indeed, the very existence of the Effective Altruism movement is designed to correct for this bias, by applying the same standards for effectiveness and efficiency to actions carried for altruistic ends that we normally apply to “selfish” actions.