From mazes to labyrinths: an evolutionary window for public administration: a new ontology

Public administration is struggling with its identity at a time when cultural events would indicate that it has failed to do its job. However, the chaos of the current context of society marks an evolutionary window for both public administration and the American culture. Public administration can either decide to make one more adaptation to the historical dialectics of economic dialogue, or it can choose to embrace a new identity -- one more in line with its democratic and constitutional roots. However, to demand that public administration become more aware of its democratic responsibilities, also requires that public administration be given a new voice with which to speak -- one different from the management paradigm within which it has spoken in this century. What is called the Ontology of Neo-Darwinism has created a consciousness among public administrators which limits what they feel they can do and what they can talk about to the boundaries of that consciousness. In particular, the consciousness has come to appear like a state which can not be exceeded, despite its undemocratic tendencies, because of limitations which are perceived to define the nature of human relationships. It is proposed here that an Evolutionary ontology is more appropriate for the tasks of public administration. It is an ontology which views relationship and responsibility as the basis of human process, rather than fear and blame. The philosophical roots of the Ontology of Neo-Darwinism are described and the Evolutionary ontology defined.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Public Administration and Public Affairs

Department dc:contributor.department

Public Administration and Public Affairs

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1993

Author dc:creator

• Dennard, Linda F.

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Wolf, James F.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• White, Orion F. Jr.
• Green, Richard T.
• Wamsley, Gary L.
• McSwain, Cynthia J.

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

etd-10262005-101009

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/40193