Meddling

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.

• 1. Apples and Pluralism2. Operational Independence3. Leaving Others Alone4. Telling Others What to Do5. Making Others Do What We Want (and They Don't)6. Helping Others7. Independence and the Anthill

"Lachs's Meddling is, caveat lector, a work of ethical philosophy . . . It is not pop sociology. It is refreshingly—to this reader, at least—devoid of phrases like 'a new study shows' or 'data now support.' It is, in fact, a welcome antidote to that soft-science-driven journalism which conditions us to mistrust the judgments supplied by our own experience and observation. . . . Meddling is short (127 pages), accessible, and sure to vindicate and delight anyone who senses too much meddling in his own affairs."—Daily Beast"What would happen if John Stuart Mill were alive today and he addressed the issue of meddling? It is likely that he would have written a plea for tolerance deeply akin to this one. It is welcome to have a position so clearly staked out and so ably defended."—Vincent Colapietro, The Pennsylvania State University"A very refreshing contribution to the field of ethics. Lachs understands how we live our lives in a far richer and [more] authentic way than that presented by texts in ethics, replete with their wooden case studies. The strength of this work is its contribution to the vast audience of intelligent citizens who are weary from being micromanaged, as to health, diet, beliefs, and lifestyle."—John McDermott, Texas A&M University