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Distortions of Progress

Evolutionary Theories and Public Administration

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

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


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Sementelli, A. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?