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Administration & Society
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Distortions of Progress

Evolutionary Theories and Public Administration

Arthur Sementelli

Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, sementel{at}fau.edu

Evolution and evolutionary theories in the social sciences in general, and applied fields in particular, are often grounded in the discredited (in biology) Lamarckian conceptualization. Lamarckian ideas of progress, with their associated teleology and totalizing influences, tend not to be useful for public administration. This article proposes that public administration instead consider an alternative image of evolution that enables the practical use of evolutionary theories, enabling them to better understand the nature of wicked problems in both theory and practice.

Key Words: change • evolution • imagery • progress

Administration & Society, Vol. 39, No. 6, 740-760 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0095399707304432
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