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Reason, Discretion and Tradition

A Reflection on the Burkean Worldview and Its Implications for Public Administration

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Michael W. Spicer

Cleveland State University

This article seeks to better identify Edmund Burke's views on human reason and human nature, tradition, representation, and law, and the implications of these views for public administration. Parallels between Burke's thought and that of the Founders (Founding Fathers) are examined. Also, the reasons for neglect of Burke's thought by public administration writers are discussed. Drawing on Burke's thought, the article presents an argument for the exercise of significant discretion by public administrators but argues that this discretion should be limited by administrative rules and procedures and by a set of ethics that emphasizes prudence and tradition.

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