Philanthropy

Philanthropy, or the act of private and voluntary giving, has been a familiar term since it first entered the English language in the seventeenth century. Translated from the Latin term “philanthropia” or “love of mankind,” philanthropy permeates many social spheres and serves several social purposes including charity, humanitarianism, religious morality and even manipulation for social control.

Peter Kropotkin, a nineteenth century evolutionary theorist, proposed that philanthropic behaviors aided development of civilization and survival of the human race. However, it seems the idea of unselfish giving was a conflicted concept in early East Asian religious thought. For instance, Confucius said altruism was an important personal virtue. Conversely, Taoist philosopher Chuang Tzu thought philanthropy was a harmful aspect of human nature that disturbed the well being of the people. Other pre-Greek notions of philanthropy were applied as religious duties done to appease gods. For example, both Hindu and Buddhist scriptures stress alms for the poor and also holy men, who often lived in poverty. Egyptian pharaohs believed that unselfish giving and the building of tombs would appease the gods and ensure immortality.

Both the Greeks and the Romans practiced philanthropy. During this time, philanthropy was viewed as a sign of good citizenship and democratic practice. The success and harmony of the polis or city-state was a highly regarded matter for the Greeks and Romans. Consequently, the Greeks and Romans did not practice charity in the manner common today. Instead of the wealthy giving to the poor, the wealthy invested in civic projects and cultural institutions for the betterment of the public on a mass social scale.

The Jews were...

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...aires had the social obligation to share their wealth with those less fortunate. This theory, known as “The Gospel of Wealth,” spread to other wealthy American business people including the Rockefellers and the Fords. They began to create foundations for donations, which were at first viewed with fear by the public. During the 1950’s, fear of Communism began to bleed into nonprofit sectors, as many feared their donations would support anti-American causes.

Finally, it should be noted that today, most philanthropy is practiced in Great Britain and the United States. The principles of individual responsibility and volunteerism for the good of the people are most strongly abided by in these places. These cultural values have changed little over time for these countries, so while practices and institutions for giving have changed, the intentions are mostly the same.