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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.