Why do we sometimes prefer to consult the interests of others rather than our own interests?

What is the relationship between selfishness and benevolence? Is altruism merely a mask for
self-interest? At first sight these may appear to be empirical, psychological questions, but it is
obviously the case that even if they are construed as such, the answers will depend on the
meaning assigned to such key expressions as "self-interest," "benevolence," "sympathy,"

"Self-interest" is not in fact the name of a motive at all. A man who acts from self-interest is a
man who allows himself to act from certain motives in a given type of situation. The same action
done from the same motive in another type of situation would not be correctly characterized as
done from self-interest. So if I eat to sate my hunger or do my job well in order to succeed, I do
not necessarily act from self-interest. It is only when I am in a situation where food is short or
my rising in the world requires a disregard for the legitimate claims of others that to consult only
my hunger or my ambition becomes to act from self-interest. The notion of self-interest therefore
has application not to human behavior in general but to a certain type of human situation,
namely, one in which behavior can be either competitive or noncompetitive. Equally, in this type
of situation alone can the notions of benevolence and altruism have application. Therefore, it is
to the elucidation of these that we must next turn.

Benevolence is termed as ‘well wishing’ as per the oxford dictionary, but in reality this word has
a lot of depth. A benevolent heart gives without thinking and generously offers. Its origin is from
a Latin word ‘bene’-‘well’, ‘volent’-‘wishing’. The meaning of benevolence can be extended to
doing well to others in a generous way and being selfless. Also a heart that gives is a heart that is
considered as next to purity. There are many words that are used to describe this variant word-
kindness, compassion, generosity, munificence, goodwill, etc. Benevolence is a character that
every human possesses. It is human nature to be benevolent to other people either to your family,
friends, close relatives or others. Benevolence as the title suggests is a gentle touch that soothes
the soul. A heart that gives generously suggests that the person is friendly and doesn’t expect
anything in return.

Literally speaking, sympathy means feeling with others. It is the tendency of sharing emotions
with others. It works so quickly that it may be termed as unconscious tendency. Sympathy is thus
feeling as others feel in the absence of logically adequate grounds for feeling in that manner.
When a mother sees her son injured, she instantaneously feels hurt. When a child cries in
distress, his other companions at once share his feeling.

Gautama saw an old man, a diseased man and a dead person. His mind became perturbed at the
sight so much so that he proceeded to make a life-long search for the solution of the three
problems old-age, disease and death. Not only is distress and pain shared, pleasure and delight
also is shared by companions.
In short, I hope after explaining “self-interest” , “benevolence” and “sympathy”, you can
understand more about the two philosophical terms altruism and egoism.