Strangers Drowning: Impossible Idealism, Drastic Choices, and the Urge to Help

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What does it mean to devote oneself entirely to helping others? In this exploration, Larissa MacFarquhar delves into the lives of individuals committed to extreme ethical principles, sharing their intimate stories filled with integrity, compromise, bravery, and moral dilemmas. For instance, a couple adopts two troubled children, then expands their family to twenty, grappling with the balance between the needs of their adopted children and those of others in distress. Another couple establishes a leprosy colony in India, risking their own children's safety for the sake of others. A woman struggles with the guilt of spending on herself instead of donating to save lives, questioning when compromise turns into self-indulgence. While we admire such altruism, there is often skepticism towards do-gooders, prompting us to reflect on why moral individuals can make us uneasy. MacFarquhar weaves in a rich history of literature, philosophy, and social science that has shaped this ambivalence in Western culture. Through vivid storytelling, she compels us to confront essential questions about humanity: how much should we help those in need, and at what cost to our loved ones? This thought-provoking work challenges our values and the essence of compassion.