Self-Sacrifice and Generosity

Adams discusses altruism as a virtue, since according to him virtue is “an excellent form of being for the good.” Indeed, the way Adams describes altruism, it fits this description. In his stipulations and explanations of altruism, however, I became curious to know how he would pose his position on how self-sacrifice cannot reasonably be made with completely pure intention, against his definition of generosity; that is, a freedom from constraints that would keep one from giving. (p.83) Provided that humans, for that very reason, are unable to commit to an act of self-sacrifice without thinking at least somewhat of themselves and their own needs, I cannot see how actual generosity can exist, if freedom from constraints and needs is needed for generosity. Perhaps Adams is talking about something like fear or cowardice, though he does not articulate what exactly it is that would hold someone back from self-sacrifice. I feel Adams should have explored this potential conflict more, and taken the effort to clarify his definition of generosity and its relation to making a self-sacrifice, that supposedly cannot be made entirely selflessly.