A friend and I have been having a thoroughly enjoyable discussion/argument on this topic. So enjoyable and interesting that with his permission I am inviting all of your-all's comments.
What, exactly, is altruism? Is it defined by intentions or results? If a person does a good deed but then trumpets about it, is he altruistic? Or--if someone meant to do good but unintentionally causes a disaster: is that altruism? Is it possible that someone becomes a movie star for altruistic reasons?