What is a good research topic on Altruism?

The topic has to be easy to research but also has to deal with public service / government. I have been up all night trying to think.....

What is a good research topic on Altruism?
"Altruism \Al"tru*ism\, n. [F. altruisme (a word of Comte's), It. altrui of or to others, fr. L. alter another.] Regard for others, both natural and moral; devotion to the interests of others; brotherly kindness; -- opposed to egoism or selfishness." [1]


Ok--if altruism is opposed to egoism, then it must necessarily be egotistic, as they are the antitheses of each other.


This is the argument Ayn Rand makes against altruism: that it does not serve man because it opposes egoism, where egoism is rational and psychologically healthy; and where egotism, being the antithesis, must then be non-rational and mentally un-healthy.


" ... The three values which men held for centuries and which have now collapsed are: mysticism, collectivism, altruism. Mysticism -- as a cultural power -- died at the time of the Renaissance. Collectivism -- as a political ideal -- died in World War II. As to altruism -- it has never been alive. It is the poison of death in the blood of Western civilization, and men survived it only to the extent to which they neither believed nor practiced it."[2]
Reply:Health care. Certain governments and people in countries that have a national health care system believe providing health care is a basic necessity that all citizens must be provided. I did my WR 123 research paper on the topic. Very interesting to see how other people in the world view the importance of gov't provided health care.





Just an idea...don't know if it really meets the criteria of altruism...
Reply:Altruism also means to have a condescending nature.


It could have a devasting effect on the person who receives this help.


Now, this is where you could work..... ALTRUISM as practised by the State and Individual.
Reply:A good research topic on Altruism is how it plays out in Game Theory.





Game Theory is a way of looking at the consequences of various types of social behavior by modeling it with either real persons or computer programs. Here are some of the types of behavior that have been studied in relation to Public Goods games:





(1) "cooperators"


(2) "defectors" (sometimes referred to as "Free Riders" or "Cheats")


(3) "selfish punishers"


(4) "altruistic punishers"