Concept
Generosity
Overview
Generosity (also called largesse) is the virtue of being liberal in giving, often as gifts. Generosity is regarded as a virtue by various world religions and philosophies and is often celebrated in cultural and religious ceremonies.
Scientific investigation into generosity has examined the effect of a number of scenarios and games on individuals' generosity, potential links with neurochemicals such as oxytocin, and generosity's relationship with similar feelings such as empathy.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
In the original texts
Passages from public-domain books where Generosity is discussed.
The most humane actions require no self-denial, no self-command, no great exertion of the sense of propriety. They consist only in doing what this exquisite sympathy would of its own accord prompt us to do. But it is otherwise with generosity. We never are generous except when in some respect we prefer some other person to ourselves, and sacrifice some great and important interest of our own to an equal interest of…
Adam Smith, The Theory of Moral Sentiments
names the idea; states what it is; opens on it
A virtue then, in the full sense, that is as the expression of virtuous character, and not of the struggle of character to be virtuous against the allurements of passive goods, is an _interest_. The system of virtues includes the various forms which interest assumes. Truthfulness, for example, is interest in the media of human exchange; generosity is interest in sharing any form of superior endowment with others…
John Dewey, Outlines of a Critical Theory of Ethics
states what it is; names the idea
Considered as the quality of a person, it consists in the habit of this reasonable moderation, in its having become the customary and usual disposition of the mind. Thus the action which proceeds from an occasional fit of generosity is undoubtedly a generous action, but the man who performs it, is not necessarily a generous person, because it may be the single action of the kind which he ever performed. The motive…
Adam Smith, The Essays of Adam Smith
states what it is; names the idea
From these principles we may easily account for that merit, which is commonly ascribed to generosity, humanity, compassion, gratitude, friendship, fidelity, zeal, disinterestedness, liberality, and all those other qualities, which form the character of good and benevolent. A propensity to the tender passions makes a man agreeable and useful in all the parts of life; and gives a just direction to all his other…
David Hume, A Treatise of Human Nature
opens on it; names the idea
We can now judge how these virtuosi stand towards the claim of the modern man to a higher and purer conception of justice. This virtue has never a pleasing quality; it never charms; it is harsh and strident. Generosity stands very low on the ladder of the virtues in comparison; and generosity is the mark of a few rare historians!
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, Thoughts Out of Season, Part II
states what it is; names the idea
Related ideas
- Jesus
- Gospel
- University of Notre Dame
- Immanuel Kant
- Categorical imperative
- Paul the Apostle
- Charity (Christian virtue)
- Nobility
- Empathy
- Buddhism
- Virtue
- Christianity
- Islam
- Afghanistan
- Ceremony
- Reciprocity (cultural anthropology)
Place in the tradition
Part of Philosophy.