The Ontology of Process Philosophy in Follett's Administrative Theory
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12450328 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Margaret Stout (0000-0002-7254-4934, West Virginia University, corresponding author), Carrie M Staton (West Virginia University) |
| Year | 2011 |
| Volume | 33 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 268-292 |
| Publication date | 2011-05-25 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Administrative Theory & Praxis (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1084-1806 • E-ISSN: 1949-0461 |
| Publisher | Taylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.2753/atp1084-1806330206 |
| OpenAlex | W2169334197 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 18 |
| References cited | 58 |
The importance of ontology to social theory is emerging in a variety of fields associated with political theory, including public administration. This article explores the ontological underpinnings of Follett's theory of governance, including both political and administrative theory. The observation of similarities between Follett's concepts and those of Whitehead's process philosophy led to the discovery that they were indeed contemporaries who mutually influenced one another's work, with Follett focusing on the social and Whitehead focusing on the physical. This article interprets and analyzes their key principles, finding a shared ontology that understands becoming as a relational process; difference as being related, yet unique; and the purpose of becoming as harmonizing difference. Together, these concepts prefigure a political form that can be called Follettian governance—facilitation of a way of living together through a relational process of becoming unique individuals, collectively engaged in an ongoing process of harmonizing differences through interlocking networks, to progress as both individuals and a society
Corporate governance · Epistemology · Knowledge management · Management · Ontology · Political philosophy · Political science · Politics · Process (computing · Process philosophy · Sociology · Variety (cybernetics · Computer Science · Law · Management and Organizational Studies · Management Theory and Practice · Philosophy · Weber, Simmel, Sociological Theory · Artificial Intelligence
Relational public administration
Collaboration in action
Transforming a world that never stands still
The Actionable Researcher
Constructing a New Public Administration in Africa
Toward a Relational Language of Process
From Atomistic to Interwoven
Mary Parker Follett as Integrative Public Philosopher
Competing Ontologies
Communicative Capacity
Public Encounters
Plunging into the process
Power-with leadership practices
Meaningful knowledge about public administration
Symposium Introduction
Relational Process Ontology
The double bind of social innovation
Competing Ontologies
The administrative state
The new state
International political economy
Gender Images in Public Administration
Citizen Governance
The New Sciences Organizations
Not Ahead of her Time
Phenomenology of Spirit
Without Criteria
Mary Parker Follett
Mastering Public Administration
A Samurai's Lineage
Beyond Public vs. Private
Prophet of Participation
Public Administration as The Carrier of the new Social Bond
Taking Language Seriously
Advancing Praxis
The Publicness of Public Administration
Back to the Future
Constitution as Executive Order
Mary Parker Follett and the Quest for Pragmatic Administration
Constructing Civil Space
Seeing Through Organization
Public Administration and “The Lives of Others”
Revealing the Feminist in Mary Parker Follett
Community is a Process
Eternal Objects, Attributes, and Relations in Whitehead's Philosophy
Connecting the Local Narratives
Enchantment, Weak Ontologies, and Administrative Ethics
Without criteria
Mary Parker Follett
Integrating Mary Parker Follett and Public Administration
The Death of the Practitioner
Biopolitics meets Terrapolitics
| Unique citing works | 18 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1,29 |
| Citation span | 2012 - 2025 (14) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 18 |