THE STUDY OF EPISTEMOLOGICAL PROBLEMS ON THE CONCEPT OF ALTRUISTIC BEHAVIOR: BLACK, WHITE AND GREY

The aim of this work is to try to solve the epistemological blur and conceptual disorder on the phenomenon of altruism, which is studied in disciplines such as sociology, psychology, biology, management and organization, theology, education, health and sports. For this purpose, the phenomenon of altruistic behavior was handled with the help of the methods as decomposition of opinions in the literature, questioning of causality relations and examination of conceptual genetics. As a result of the studies made, it has been found that three different approaches are used expressing literature altruistic behavior, these approaches are separated from each other in important points, and this separation reached the unfavorable dimensions that caused to be misunderstanding the altruism phenomenon in the scientific investigations. In this study, these approaches were explained and discussed considering the focus of their meanings, through metaphors that "Black", "white" and "gray". Finally, evaluations and suggestions were made about what actually should be understood from the phenomenon of altruistic behavior and the significance of this phenomenon in terms of social dynamics.