The idea of philanthropy is associated with love for human beings.
Philanthropy is a word of Greek origin that means "love of the human race." It is a concept used in a positive way to refer to the help that is offered to others without requiring a response or something to change. Individuals or organizations that usually develop solidarity projects are known as philanthropists.
Volunteering , donations and non-profit or political social action are part of philanthropy, which aims to build a more just and equitable society , in which all people have the same possibilities for development .
Origins of philanthropy
Historians claim that the driving force behind the concept of philanthropy was the Roman emperor Flavius Claudius Julian ( 332 – 363 ), who sought to restore paganism in place of Catholicism. For this, he proposed the notion of philanthropy to replace Christian charity .
Currently, one of the best-known philanthropists is Bill Gates , who was one of the creators of the software company Microsoft . Gates was awarded in 2006 , along with his wife Melinda , the Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation thanks to the work developed since its foundation. That year, for example, Gates donated $500 million to the fight against AIDS.
Social action and volunteerism are driven by philanthropy.
Its causes
For a person to feel the need to collaborate with another to improve their quality of life or give them a hand in a specific emotional state, one of two is necessary, who has an unclear emotional situation (psychic problems that lead them to give themselves selflessly, generally related to low self-esteem) or who is so in touch with her own feelings that she can empathize with those around her, being able to perceive their pain and struggle and wanting to join them in doing what she can to help others get out of your sadness.
In any case, philanthropy also needs a reason for being . We cannot offer help to someone if we are not able to give ourselves what we need; That is why it is important that before approaching another person to help them, we know if we are capable of doing so, that is, if we have the necessary tools to collaborate positively with them .
If a group of people intend to help others who live in a disadvantaged neighborhood to improve their health, they should first have a group of specialists willing to collaborate with them and set up a solid structure, because otherwise the good intentions will fall into disrepair. empty bag and will not give any results.
Philanthropy and misanthropy
Misanthropy is the opposite concept of philanthropy and implies a general tendency that is characterized by antipathy towards the human race . The misanthrope rejects the main characteristics of human beings. This means that it does not show conflict with one or more people, but rather its psychological and social structure leads it to reject the entire species.
In literature there was a literary movement that was called misanthropy in which authors were found who were characterized by their firm hatred of their fellow human beings and wrote about it in a satirical way; among them we can mention William S. Gilbert .
Some people believe that misanthropy is a necessary step to achieve philanthropy since in order to act and help others, it is important to recognize that there are other beings of the same species who are not doing their job well or are not offering a hand to those who help. needs. Based on feelings that could be linked to misanthropy, we can reflect on the behavior of our species and look for solutions to inequality and injustice.