ABSTRACT
Contrary to the position of many liberal theorists and libertarians, government and the agencies and institutions of the state cannot be neutral. This chapter defends this position, and more broadly the principle of government intervention into the lives of its citizens. The aim is to make the case for fostering a public-spirited culture, considering it in relation to communitarianism and liberalism. The main defence of both government intervention and the promotion of public-spiritedness is discussed. It is argued that these can be justified because they potentially contribute to 'human flourishing'. In order to justify this position, what constitutes human flourishing, and why it is something people should strive for, is outlined. The intention is to identify common themes, such as pluralism, without which human flourishing would be unlikely. Finally, the chapter considers the conditions and environment needed to enable people to flourish, drawing upon central themes within liberalism and communitarianism. Autonomy, community, and pluralism, are prerequisites to achieving this end.
