TY - JOUR T1 - The Path of Altruism: <em>A Reflection on the Nature of a Gift and Its Consequences in Leading to Entitlement or Enhancement</em> JF - The Journal of Wealth Management SP - 14 LP - 20 DO - 10.3905/jwm.2008.11.3.014 VL - 11 IS - 3 AU - James (Jay) E Hughes, Jr. Y1 - 2008/10/31 UR - https://pm-research.com/content/11/3/14.abstract N2 - The author offers an instructive distinction between a gift and a transfer. A gift enhances the human and intellectual development of another; a transfer might initiate the downhill slide of another into the state of victimhood known as entitlement. Every act we perform toward another, whether individually or through our social capital as philanthropists, has these two possible outcomes. The author then distinguishes between three possible meanings for the concept of obligation: a duty, a responsibility, or compassion and gratitude. He proposes that any act toward another that begins as a duty will likely lead to dependence and reduction of the human spirit. An action that creates in another a state of “being entitled” carries with it, for that person, a significant risk of becoming, in his or her own eyes, a victim with an ever-deepening loss of self-awareness and personal freedom. When that obligation is viewed with a sense of responsibility, an important positive step is achieved in that giving responsibly requires of the donor active caring about whether the gift will harm another. Finally, when obligation is manifested through gratitude as compassion, it leads to the enhancement of one’s own spirit and to the enhancement of the spirits of those it touches. It is the practice of love for one’s fellow man. It is the essence of philosanthropos and thus of philanthropy.TOPICS: Wealth management, foundations &amp; endowments ER -