Meddling: On the Virtue of Leaving Others Alone

John Lachs claims that we are surrounded by people who seem to know what is good for us better than we do ourselves. Lachs discusses the joy of choice and the rare virtue of leaving others alone to lead their lives as they see fit. He does not mean that we abandon them in their genuine hour of need, but that we aid them on their own terms and not make help conditional upon adopting approved beliefs and behaviors. Lachs believes help needs to be temporary to discourage dependence. He contends that leaving others alone in this fashion will create a community that is caring and responsive to the needs of others. All it takes is an urge not to meddle, even when we think it's for someone else's own good.

Author: John Lachs
Publisher: Indiana University Press
Published: 08/15/2014
Pages: 140
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.40lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.50w x 0.40d
ISBN: 9780253014764

Review Citation(s):
Choice 03/01/2015 pg. 1159

About the Author

John Lachs is Centennial Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University. He is author of Stoic Pragmatism (IUP, 2012), A Community of Individuals, and In Love with Life.