What to Do? Thoughts Evoked By the Census of Moscow

Name: What to Do? Thoughts Evoked By the Census of Moscow
Author: graf Leo Tolstoy

The author, newly resident in a major city, records vivid street-level encounters with widespread urban poverty and the policing and social customs surrounding public begging. He contrasts able-bodied laborers who toil for subsistence with those who beg, probes causes of destitution, and questions the legality and morality of criminalizing need. Interweaving personal anecdote with ethical and religious reflection, he examines private charity, institutional failure, and the responsibilities of individuals and society to relieve suffering and reform structures that perpetuate poverty.

By graf Leo Tolstoy

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graf Leo Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy, a prominent Russian author and philosopher, is best known for his epic novels that explore complex themes of morality, society, and human experience. His most famous works include "Anna Karenina," which delves into the intricacies of love and infidelity, and "War and Peace," a sweeping narrative set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars. Beyond fiction, Tolstoy was a significant thinker in the realms of ethics and spirituality, as evidenced in his essays such as "The Kingdom of God Is Within You," where he articulates his views on nonviolent resistance and Christian anarchism. His literary contributions have left a lasting impact on both literature and philosophy.