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Charity, Volunteering

Definition​

Volunteering​

  • making efforts for the benefit of most others
  • encouraging others to do the same (not to you but to yet others)
  • attributes:
    • the most direct type of charity
    • easier to prove (harder to fake)
    • feedbacks are necessary

Charity​

  • mediated volunteering:
    • by pecuniary resources
    • by buying services, access, influence, political lobby, or other resources
  • attributes:
    • indirect volunteering
    • hard to prove (easy to fake)

Charity and Volunteering​

  • attributes:
    • feedbacks are necessary
    • transparency and searchability of all resources have to exist
  • dimensions of measure:
    • amount of effort
    • quality of effort (physical, intellectual)
    • efficiency of effort
    • number of beneficiaries and payers
    • amount of benefit
  • subtypes:
    • Hospitality: Xenia ξενία
    • Ambassadorship: Proxenia προξενία

Corruptions​

  • giving Charity without attribution:
    • encourages theft of resources and reputation
    • discourages others to be Charitable
  • taking from the many (instead of earning justly) to give to the few (reverse Robin Hood: robbing the hood)
  • giving to those who will inflict pain on many others (e.g.: giving donations to the Nazi party)
  • robbing to give (Robin Hood)
  • not measuring the final benefit and continuing to give without Prudence
  • benefiting few instead of many
  • benefiting your own family or business partners instead of all who deserve
  • benefiting those who do not deserve before those who do
  • giving with other strings attached other than Virtues alone

Dependencies​

  • Major
    • Hope: by means of hope in a cause or a person we become Charitable
    • Temperance: if we have an Abundance of resources or vital energy, Temperance will guide us towards Charity
    • Faith: when we are Charity receivers we are inspired to believe (to have Faith) in Goodness.

Correspondences​

  • Islam
    • Sadaqah (Charitable Giving): Beyond obligatory almsgiving (Zakat), voluntary charity is highly commended, reflecting compassion and generosity.
    • Ihsan (Benevolence/Excellence): This virtue means to do things with perfection, beauty, and excellence, and to act benevolently. It also involves being conscious of God at all times.
    • Rahmah (Mercy and Compassion): Mercy, as exemplified by the Prophet Muhammad, is a central virtue. Muslims are encouraged to show compassion and kindness to all of God's creations.
  • Christianity
    • Charity
    • Love (Agape): Unconditional love that emulates the love of Christ for humanity.
  • Judaism
    • Tzedakah (Righteousness/Charity): Often translated as charity, tzedakah is more broadly the concept of justice and righteousness achieved through acts of kindness and giving.
    • Chesed (Loving-kindness): This virtue is fundamental in Jewish ethics, emphasizing compassion and love for others, and is considered a central attribute of God.
  • Buddhism
    • Dāna (pāramī): generosity, giving of oneself
  • Hinduism
    • Aparigraha (अपरिग्रहः): Non-avarice, non-possessiveness
  • Classical Greek
    • Eunoia (Goodwill towards others): It encompasses the idea of trustworthiness and kindness in dealings with other people.
    • Xenia (Hospitality): Highly praised and embedded in Greek custom, xenia is the generosity and courtesy shown to those who are far from home.
  • Taoism
    • Compassion (慈, Ci): Showing kindness and consideration towards all beings, understanding that all life is interconnected.
  • Confucianism
    • Ren (仁, Benevolence or Humaneness): Often considered the supreme virtue in Confucianism, ren is the quality of compassion, kindness, and empathy towards others. It's about caring for people and is central to Confucian ethics.
    • Xin (信, Integrity or Trustworthiness): Xin emphasizes honesty, reliability, and faithfulness. It's about being true to one's word and maintaining trust in relationships.