Altruistlik

Altruistlik is the Estonian adjective that corresponds to the English term altruistic. It describes motives or actions that are oriented toward the welfare of others, sometimes at a cost to the actor. Altruistlik käitumine is often discussed in ethics, psychology and social sciences as a form of prosocial behavior that prioritizes others' interests over one's own immediate benefit.

Etymologically, altruistlik derives from the noun altruist, which in many languages traces to French altruiste and Latin alter meaning "other." The Estonian form follows standard adaptations of European loanwords.

In normative ethics, altruism is contrasted with egoism. Some theories defend genuine altruism as an objective concern for others' welfare; others argue that apparent altruism is always tied to self-interest, whether through internal satisfaction, social approval, or future reciprocity.

Pro-social behavior is the broader category that includes altruistic acts. Biological explanations emphasize mechanisms such as kin selection and reciprocal altruism, while psychological theories focus on motives, altruistic personality, and situational factors. Critics question whether acts can be truly selfless and point to alternative explanations for helping behavior.

Common examples include charitable giving, volunteering, caregiving, and emergency aid to strangers. In public discourse, altruistlik is used to praise individuals or organizations that place others' welfare high on their agenda. In Estonian contexts, the term appears in education, policy debates and organizational ethics to describe motives oriented toward others' well-being.