Generosity

Generosity (also called largess) is the virtue of being liberal in giving, often as gifts. Generosity is regarded as a virtue by various world religions and philosophies and is often celebrated in cultural and religious ceremonies. Scientific investigation into generosity has examined the effect of a number of scenarios and games on individuals' generosity, potential links with neurochemicals such as oxytocin, and generosity's relationship with similar feelings, such as that of empathy. Generosity sometimes implies charity (the virtue of giving without expecting anything in return). This may involve offering time, assets, or talents to aid someone in need. In times of natural disaster, relief is frequently provided, voluntarily, by individuals or groups making gifts of time, resources, goods, money, etc. Generosity or charity is most impactful on an individual's life when it is not provided under the direct order or guidance of an organization. People can experience joy and satisfaction when they through acts of generosity. Therefore, generosity is a guiding principle for many registered charities, foundations, non-profit organizations, etc. Although the term generosity often goes hand-in-hand with charity, many people in the public's eye want recognition for their good deeds. The modern English word generosity derives from the Latin word generōsus, which means "of noble birth", which itself was passed down to English through the Old French word généreux. The Latin stem gener– is the declensional stem of genus, meaning "kin", "clan", "race", or "stock", with the root Indo-European meaning of gen being "to beget". The same root gives the words genesis, gentry, gender, genital, gentile, genealogy, and genius, among others. Over the last five centuries in the English speaking world, generosity developed from being primarily the description of an ascribed status pertaining to the elite nobility to being an achieved mark of admirable personal quality and action capable of being exercised in theory by any person who had learned virtue and noble character.