Reflection for the Week - February 8

In today’s harsh reality of selfishness and greed, some say there is no such thing as a gift. Giving, it is said, is always with motive or interest and that disqualifies it as gift. I would argue that while motive or interest will always be with us in giving, it need not necessarily abolish gift, as this would seem to depend on what the motive or interest are. Let’s say a canceling of gift might be the case if one gave it with the motive of receiving something in return, but if one gifts with a motive to satisfy or please the other and requires nothing in return, then the gift character of giving would not be nullified. That is, other interest wins—over a perverse self-interest—and preserves the possibility of a true gift.