Philosophy and public administration : : an introduction / / Edoardo Ongaro.

• VerfasserIn: Ongaro, Edoardo,
• TeilnehmendeR: Edward Elgar Publishing,
• Place / Publishing House: Northampton : : Edward Elgar Publishing,, 2020.
• Year of Publication: 2020
• Edition: Second edition.
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (352 pages)

"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"-- Provided by publisher.

Table of 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 Drechsler postscript: philosophy in and of public administration today by Wolfgang Drechsler -- References -- Index.