From A Book Review No Less

The liberalism Archbishop Rowan Williams defends has its secular antecedent in the philosophy Aristotle. In his Ethics, Aristotle defines the liberal man as one who is praised with regard to “the giving and taking of wealth, and especially in respect of giving.” The liberal man knows how to give to the right people and how much. And such liberality, especially when directed toward the public, is an essential part of public virtue. In giving to the public, freely, the liberal man offers an example of public spirit and generosity that, more so than paying required taxes, affirms a belonging to something bigger and more meaningful than just himself. This is one reason for the importance of a culture of philanthropy.