When the Other Happens to Me

The Deep Meaning of Altruism

Abstract

Altruism is not merely configured as a moral gesture, but rather as an ontological event that unfolds in the intersubjective encounter with alterity. By overcoming the logic of a closed and self-sufficient identity, the subject reveals itself as co-originated and constitutively relational. Situated within a reflective horizon that straddles philosophy and theology, and drawing upon the hermeneutic contributions of Martin Heidegger, Max Scheler, and Karol Wojtyla, the present study proposes a reinterpretation of altruism as a transformative and rhythmic experience. This experience demonstrates how alterity unveils the relational, asymmetrical, and generative structure of the human, thereby opening new possibilities for thought and for co-existence grounded in reciprocity and authentic relation.