Refounding Political Governance: The Metaphysics of Public Administration

An introduction is provided to the triadic metaphor of the mind, its depth and its breadth of applicability. A new concept of menetypes is introduced as being based on the triadic conception of human thinking, defined by three psychic levels of abstraction that are enveloped by a conception of the transcendent other. The methodology explains how the triadic conceptual framework gives birth to the JEWAL Synthesis theory of governance - JEWAL being an acronym to signify a synthesis of particular aspects of Eastern philosophical psychology, Western philosophy and depth psychology.

The triadic structure of human knowing is introduced with reference to its historical roots, particularly as captured in Neo-Platonist philosophy. The hierarchical conception of the triadic structure of knowing and the significance of movements of development and regression within that hierarchy are explained. The comprehensive levels of the triadic formwork of human knowing are expounded and correlated to the well-known Enneagram typology.

Governance is defined and expressed in terms of the espoused basic laws of menetypes, used to help understand cultural constructs within society. The basic triadic structure and the nature of the movement within that structure are important and are used to explain successful development in governance structures or their decline. The formwork explains how the central goal orientation of a governance structure defines particular strengths and limitations which, in turn, define the most effective approach to organizational learning within its governance structure.

Three key examples are provided on how historical philosophical thinkers explained governance in terms of the triadic structure. The essence of the triadic structure is found in Montesquieu's (1952/1748) forms of government differentiated as monarchical, republic and despotic rule and his explanation of governance structures in terms of the executive, judiciary and legislative powers. The triadic spirit is also found in Weber's (1947) depiction of charismatic, bureaucratic and traditional expressions of authority. The third example is found in Mooney's (1947) explanation of organization as comprising the operation of coordinative, functional and scalar principles.

The triadic framework is used to explain how American society, for example, is understood in terms of its economic activity, its social activity and its political activity. Then, on the more detailed level of triadic thinking, the economic sphere is explained in terms of consumption activity, production activity and market exchange that define the nature of that activity. The social sphere is explained within the triadic formwork by living standards, associative arrangements and the community's aesthetic life. The third political sphere is explained essentially in terms of Montesquieu's (1952/1748) powers of the executive, the judiciary and the legislature.

This is the core chapter on the separation of powers within the constitutional governance structure of the United States and how public administration fits within that structure. The triad of political powers is identified together with the triad of jurisdictions in terms of the local, state and national government. The subordinate role of public administration within the executive power of government is explained in contrast to the assertions in the Blacksburg Manifesto (Wamsley, 1990a). The public administration's role in defining the public interest is explained, where the public interest is defined in terms of the “good” to which American society is consciously aspiring.

A key insight is that the dichotomy of policy and administration is really a trichotomy of entrepreneurship, administration and politics. Public administration operates as a bridge between government and the public in the process of policy development and delivery. Rather than being the core of modern government, public administration is the faithful servant. Public administration has been significantly affected by the transition from the societal, managerialist to politicist orientation and needs to effect an appropriate adjustment.

The worthwhile pursuit of public administration as a vocation is discussed in terms of the Blacksburg Manifesto's (Wamsley, 1990a) call to arms and Weber's (1947) ethics of personal behaviour for public administrators. The question of who is more likely to be called to a vocation of public administration is addressed. Finally, just how the public administration can go about cultivating a true sense of administrative service is discussed.

A comparative study is provided of the way the triadic governance structure manifests in the Westminster system of government. The process of cabinet decision making is explained in terms of the roles of the spending Minister, the ever-rational Treasurer and the Prime Minister as central arbitrator of policy. An explanation is provided as to how the effectiveness of the cabinet decision-making process is determined, largely by the relationship between the key players.

The metaphor of the mind, as expressed in the JEWAL Synthesis formwork of knowing, brings together the wisdom of Eastern philosophical psychology, Western philosophical tradition and depth psychology. The book's discussion establishes that the structure of human thinking can be usefully understood as founded on three degrees of abstraction - namely, the concrete, the imaginative and the prescinded. Secondly, the cognitive movements within and between the triads of abstract thinking explain the process of human motivation, interaction and growth through learning. Thirdly, the triadic-structured metaphor of the mind helps give new meaning to a number of long-standing polemics in relation to public administration, to present an insightful analysis of governance in modern, Western society.

Full Text Available