Not everyone experiences an immediate benefit (e.g. feelings of joy) from empathy. I’ve particularly noticed this trait in right-leaning voters. Here is an example… and I would bet a very large sum of money this person is a trump voter.

A society in which individuals actively help one another is inherently self-serving since mutual cooperation leads to a higher quality of life for all, including the individual providing assistance. When people contribute to the well-being of others, whether through acts of kindness, social programs, or community efforts, they create an environment where support is readily available when they themselves need it. This reciprocal benefit means helping others is not purely altruistic at a macro level.

Cooperation fosters a culture of goodwill and shared responsibility, which ultimately benefits each person within the system. When people see generosity and support as the norm, they are more likely to receive help when they require it, creating a feedback loop of mutual benefit. Ironically, this is the foundation of Christianity.

Further, businesses thrive when workers and consumers are well-supported, crime rates drop in communities with strong social networks, and innovation flourishes when people collaborate rather than compete destructively. Even seemingly selfless acts, like donating to charity or mentoring others, can be viewed as investments in a society that, in turn, provides security, opportunity, and prosperity for all. What may appear— superficially— as altruism is, in reality, a form of enlightened self-interest that ensures the stability and success of individuals by strengthening the collective. The standard transitive property applies: by improving the lives of others, individuals indirectly improve their own circumstances.