Knowledge is a way we order the world to make sense.
Describe how that knowledge is related to power. What does this mean democratic governance?
Because knowledge is the way we individually order the world, for it to make sense to us, is directly related to our concept of ontology, or determination of our conception of reality. Everyone’s ontology is different and their idea of human identity is different. Therefore, as Margaret Stout, points out “what is deemed proper or legitimate representation is a widely debated question in a democratic society”.
Stout also talks about all rational people agreeing on the basics (of public administration), and if they do not agree, surely they could focus on theoretical questions of philosophy, religion, or physics in order to discern the basis for theory and practice of public administration. But these studies do not seem to render results which get to the bottom of philosophical commitments in political practices. Stout quotes the Founders’ Forum panel session at the 2010 American Society for Public Administration conference discussion of “alternative understandings of ontology and human identity that are linked to practices of direct democracy, noting that it actually helped them make sense of why things such as collaboration, public participation, and international development are successful (or not)”. Public administrators use their individual ontology within which to frame life, according to what is good (according to them), for themselves, their world, and others, and often base their political theory from their ontology.
Robert B. Denhardt, cites Jurgen Habermas’ study of public organizations with examination of “(1) the critique of instrumental reason, (2) the scientization of political life and the reduction of the public sphere, and (3) the relationship between knowledge and human interests”. Denhardt talks about the Frankfurt School trying to expose roots of social domination, but that they were immediately challenged by the definition of reason, or social rationality. Denhardt continues that Habermas states that an alternative scenario may be developed, by altering conditions of domination, “offering a different relationship between man and nature”.
Therefore, public service personnel must be held to a higher standard by alteration of conditions of domination (by gaining more education), so that public administrators may serve in a manner which better serves the public needs. In order for this to happen, those in public service should make all attempts to gain knowledge about the ontology of the clients, those the administrator will be serving. If a balance in a democratic government, can be reached, a good public administrator must first be aware of his/her ontological influence on his/her decisions, must be aware of the needs and best interest of all of the parties, bureaucrats and citizens, and use that knowledge for the good of the public as a whole.
Julie Nebeker - working with others to make life better 