Concept
Philanthropy
Overview
Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives for the public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy tends to be used interchangeably with the term charity. Charity has been noted in Egypt, centuries before the Christian era, having religious origins. Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private good, focusing on material gain; and with government endeavors that are public initiatives for public good, such as those that focus on the provision of public services. Present day philanthropy has evolved into providing long-term aid and change, rather than immediate relief. A person who practices philanthropy is a philanthropist.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Possible passages
Found by search and not yet checked by a person; they may only mention the idea in passing.
"There have been noble-minded men," said he, "who yet were wanting in philanthropy; but never has there been a small-minded man who had philanthropy in him." He asked, "Can any one refuse to toil for those he loves?
Confucius, The Wisdom of Confucius with Critical and Biographical Sketches
Names Philanthropy twice; opens on Philanthropy.
_I answer that,_ There are two kinds of justice. The one consists in mutual giving and receiving, as in buying and selling, and other kinds of intercourse and exchange. This the Philosopher (Ethic. v, 4) calls commutative justice, that directs exchange and intercourse of business. This does not belong to God, since, as the Apostle says: "Who hath first given to Him, and recompense shall be made him?" (Rom. 11:35)…
Aquinas Thomas, Summa Theologica, Part I
States what Philanthropy is; the author is tied to Philanthropy in the knowledge graph.
If one could take an illustration coming closer home to us than yours, that might be made the starting-point for speaking about philanthropy."
Confucius, Chinese literature
Names Philanthropy twice.
Related ideas
- Francis Bacon
- Deregulation
- Equity (economics)
- Profit (economics)
- India
- Industrial Revolution
- Latin
- London
- Harvard University
- Middle Ages
- Great Depression
- Mozi
- Thomas Aquinas
- Welfare state
- Propaganda
- Social issue
- Puritans
- Plutarch
- Welfare spending
- Protestantism
- Nobel Peace Prize
- Baltimore
- American Philosophical Society
- Aristotle
Opposing perspectives
Place in the tradition
Part of Cynicism (philosophy).