Why help others? Who helps whom? Arthur Engelbert analyzes the pros and cons of mutual assistance to highlight the problems and perspectives of collaborative work in small groups against the backdrop of current societal and cultural developments. The focus is not on the individual, but on the group in which people align their motives and interests. Mutual aid - a term originating from Peter Kropotkin - is a vision that begins in the present. It is based on reciprocal selflessness and the self-enhancement of individuals within small groups. The author explains, using examples and models, why mutual aid is necessary and how it can be achieved.