Working from an Aristotelian perspective, the author argues that the welfare state, although able to meet social needs, cannot be very effective in solving complex social problems. The latter requires sensitivities to particular people in particular situations, which can only be acquired communally. This is the level at which citizens, in their pursuit of self-government, count as much as or more than public policies and agencies. However, citizens, on their own, may often lack the skills and wherewithal to tackle difficult social dilemmas. The article suggests experimenting with a strategy of immersing public administrators in communities to lend a noncoercive hand to citizen problem solvers.
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