Philosophy and Public Administration: An Introduction

This book provides a systematic and comprehensive introduction to the philosophical foundations of the study and practice of public administration. Philosophy and Public Administration provides the reader with an agile introduction to the main philosophical streams from classical metaphysics to phenomenology, empiricism to rationalism and pragmatism to personalism, ultimately revealing their significance for public governance and management.Ontological and epistemological issues are brought to the fore in discussing contemporary conceptions of the nature of public administration. The book 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. The works of major thinkers like Thomas More and Niccolo Machiavelli are revisited, drawing implications for contemporary public administration. 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 scholars and practitioners alike reflecting on or practising the management of public services.

Table of Contents:
Contents: 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. 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. Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Niccolò Machiavelli, Thomas More: on virtues, realism, and utopian thinking in public administration 7. The search for consistency Index

About the Author :
Edoardo Ongaro, Professor of Public Management, The Open University, UK

Review :
'Take this book into your hand. Open it, start reading, and think about the text. The exercise is worth it. It opens up new intellectual horizons.' 'Philosophy and Public Administration: An Introduction, by Edoardo Ongaro is both important and necessary for decision-makers,scholars and students. . . In a world of governance which is dominated more and more frequent by emergencies (often unimportant), simplistic ideas, populism, obsessive search for easy results, multiplication of boxes which need to be ticked, the work of Edoardo Ongaro is necessary and important for those interested in the essence of public administration: ideas and values which provide its deep meaning.' 'This is a bold and timely study which fills a major gap in the current literature on public governance, public administration, and public management. 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 administration. It will benefit anyone interested in deeper philosophical thinking relevant to public management.' '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.'