Hardback
Philosophy and Public Administration
An Introduction, Second Edition
2nd edition
9781839100338 Edward Elgar Publishing
This is an open access title available under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 License. It is free to read, download and share on Elgaronline.com.
Philosophy and Public Administration provides a systematic and comprehensive introduction to the philosophical foundations of the study and practice of public administration. In this revised second edition, Edoardo Ongaro offers an accessible guide for improving public administration, exploring connections between basic ontological and epistemological stances and public governance, while offering insights for researching and teaching philosophy for public administration in university programmes.
Philosophy and Public Administration provides a systematic and comprehensive introduction to the philosophical foundations of the study and practice of public administration. In this revised second edition, Edoardo Ongaro offers an accessible guide for improving public administration, exploring connections between basic ontological and epistemological stances and public governance, while offering insights for researching and teaching philosophy for public administration in university programmes.
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Critical Acclaim
Contributors
Contents
More Information
Philosophy and Public Administration provides a systematic and comprehensive introduction to the philosophical foundations of the study and practice of public administration. An agile introduction to the main philosophical streams, from classical metaphysics to phenomenology, this thoroughly updated second edition develops new insights, such as the social ontology of public administration.
This second edition is an accessible guide in using practices, models, paradigms, ideal-types and utopias for improving public administration. Edoardo Ongaro explores connections between basic ontological stances and public governance, shedding light on the nature of public administration by revisiting fundamental philosophical issues. The quest for justification and legitimacy of public governance is examined, and ‘Common Good’, ‘Social Contract’ and ‘Personalism’ arguments vetted. Ongaro introduces a new chapter that guides readers in developing research on the link between philosophical foundations and public administration and teaching philosophy for public administration in university programmes.
This is the only book to provide a comprehensive examination of how philosophical thought matters for understanding public administration. It is a must-read for academics and practitioners alike reflecting on, or practising the management of, public services and the updated sections will advance discussions and debate among public administration scholars.
This second edition is an accessible guide in using practices, models, paradigms, ideal-types and utopias for improving public administration. Edoardo Ongaro explores connections between basic ontological stances and public governance, shedding light on the nature of public administration by revisiting fundamental philosophical issues. The quest for justification and legitimacy of public governance is examined, and ‘Common Good’, ‘Social Contract’ and ‘Personalism’ arguments vetted. Ongaro introduces a new chapter that guides readers in developing research on the link between philosophical foundations and public administration and teaching philosophy for public administration in university programmes.
This is the only book to provide a comprehensive examination of how philosophical thought matters for understanding public administration. It is a must-read for academics and practitioners alike reflecting on, or practising the management of, public services and the updated sections will advance discussions and debate among public administration scholars.
Critical Acclaim
‘Overall with such directions for future PA work, this book as an exceptionally intelligent and unusually readable feat is bound to become a classic entry point for readers new to the topics of whether and how philosophy has illuminated the intellectual space of PA. Readers should expect not to just read and understand it but to be “in” it too.’
– Yi Yang, Global Policy and Governance
‘The second edition of Ongaro’s Philosophy and Public Administration is welcome news. This bold and timely study has filled a major gap in the current literature on public governance, public administration and public management, and continues to command the attention it deserves. Ongaro offers a thoughtful exploration of the main figures and movements in the history of philosophy, providing a systematic introduction to the ontological and political philosophical foundations of public governance. It is highly recommended reading for anyone with an interest in the philosophical grounding of public administration.’
– Maria Rosa Antognazza, King’s College London, UK
Acclaim for the first edition:
‘This book makes a unique and significant contribution to the philosophical, ontological and epistemological foundations of public administration by delving more broadly and deeply into the connections between philosophy and public administration and management. This helps us better understand the complexities of public administration from a broad array of perspectives, including bureaucracy, democracy, management and governance. This book should be required reading in programs of public administration, management and policy.’
– Norma M. Riccucci, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, US
‘To give a substantial answer to the key PA-questions of what we can know, what we should do, and what we may hope for, this book gives an indispensable and substantial contribution of a solid bridge between philosophy and PA. Since this bridge did not exist yet, Ongaro had to write this book. Scholars and students alike will hugely benefit of it.’
– Geert Bouckaert, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium
‘Edoardo Ongaro’s book enters the stage at an auspicious moment for bringing the field of Public Administration back to its philosophical root. Public Administration today needs to assert itself philosophically for its own and society’s sake, but how to do so without an introductory textbook? – which we now have. As Philosophy and Public Administration takes stock of this topic in a comprehensive, even-handed, and sophisticated way, it is a must-read for scholars and students alike.’
– Wolfgang Drechsler, Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia
– Yi Yang, Global Policy and Governance
‘The second edition of Ongaro’s Philosophy and Public Administration is welcome news. This bold and timely study has filled a major gap in the current literature on public governance, public administration and public management, and continues to command the attention it deserves. Ongaro offers a thoughtful exploration of the main figures and movements in the history of philosophy, providing a systematic introduction to the ontological and political philosophical foundations of public governance. It is highly recommended reading for anyone with an interest in the philosophical grounding of public administration.’
– Maria Rosa Antognazza, King’s College London, UK
Acclaim for the first edition:
‘This book makes a unique and significant contribution to the philosophical, ontological and epistemological foundations of public administration by delving more broadly and deeply into the connections between philosophy and public administration and management. This helps us better understand the complexities of public administration from a broad array of perspectives, including bureaucracy, democracy, management and governance. This book should be required reading in programs of public administration, management and policy.’
– Norma M. Riccucci, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, US
‘To give a substantial answer to the key PA-questions of what we can know, what we should do, and what we may hope for, this book gives an indispensable and substantial contribution of a solid bridge between philosophy and PA. Since this bridge did not exist yet, Ongaro had to write this book. Scholars and students alike will hugely benefit of it.’
– Geert Bouckaert, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium
‘Edoardo Ongaro’s book enters the stage at an auspicious moment for bringing the field of Public Administration back to its philosophical root. Public Administration today needs to assert itself philosophically for its own and society’s sake, but how to do so without an introductory textbook? – which we now have. As Philosophy and Public Administration takes stock of this topic in a comprehensive, even-handed, and sophisticated way, it is a must-read for scholars and students alike.’
– Wolfgang Drechsler, Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia
Contributors
Contents
Contents: Foreword by Geert Bouckaert Acknowledgements 1 Introduction and rationale 2 Key streams in philosophical inquiry: a selection and succinct overview for the field of public administration – Part I 3 Key streams in philosophical inquiry: a selection and succinct overview for the field of public administration – Part II 4 Ontological perspectives and Public public administration doctrines and themes revisited from a philosophical perspective 5 Political philosophy and public governance: the quest for justification in ‘common good’ and in ‘social contract’ arguments and their significance for the debate on the organisation of the public sector 6 Epistemological perspectives and the study of public administration 7 Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Niccolò Machiavelli, Thomas More: on virtues, realism and utopian thinking in public administration 8 Utopias, ideal-types, paradigms, models and ‘good practices: Repertoire of conceptual tools for public administration? 9 Elements (fragments) for the philosophical foundation of a theory of public administration 10 The search for consistencyResearching and teaching philosophy for public administration Postscript to the second edition: philosophy in and of Public Administration Today, global-Western and non-Western by Wolfgang DrechslerPostscript: philosophy in and of Public Administration Today by Wolfgang Drechsler References Index
