When one states that what appears to be altruistic is purely illusive and moral acts are ultimately motivated by self interest, a multiplicity of varying implications are provoked. Altruism can be defined as the principle or practice of magnanimous concern for or dedication to the wellbeing and benefit of others. This classification is relatively general and leads to the discussion of many obscure conceptualisations and rationalisations. There are several sub-topics which serve as components to the subject matter of altruism and all its intricacies and opacities. Ethics and ethical reasoning are noteworthy issues to examine and analyse in relation to the general theme of altruism. Analysing this doctrine from an ethical point of view is vital in determining if the above statement regarding the illusiveness of altruistic acts is factual, even if people may find they uncover somewhat ambiguous results. The psychology of altruism is also a very effective means of developing a deeper and more involved understanding of how it occurs within human psyches and compels them into altruistic behaviour. Sociology is a fundamental aspect of altruism, which is apparent from the definition, as it involves concern and empathy for others. Another definition of the word describes animal behaviour which may be to its disadvantage but benefits others of its kind. This creates comparison between animal and human variations of altruism and whether there is a difference in how the concept applies to them. The opposite of altruism is egoism, the partiality to valuing everything only within the orientation of one's personal interests. It is useful to draw a comparison between each of the two opposing ideologies to establish which is illusive and which is real. Whether countervailing, non- ...