Just so long as we're alert to how this can be twisted. Giving is great, but only so long as certain conditions are met.<p>For example, giving isn't great when you have no choice but to give. Take a fast-food worker. We could wax lyrical about the stress and time they save others in their community. But that probably doesn't feel so great to the worker because they get yelled at by irate customers and bosses more often than they get thanked, and they <i>can't</i> just quit because if they do they will be homeless next month. Giving isn't really giving if you can't say no.<p>For another example, giving isn't great when you're taking more than you give. A property manager can feel good donating some of their profits to charities, but if their rent increases are pricing existing residents out of their own neighborhood then it's all kind of hollow. Giving isn't really giving if what you're giving is what someone else was forced to give to you.<p>A lot of people turn to hedonism because society doesn't offer them truly eudaimonic opportunities. At least getting high and building a new Lego set doesn't come with the feeling of being used.