Examining Frank J. Goodnow’s Hegelian Heritage

Abstract

This study examines the extent to which Goodnow’s ideas about public administration were informed by Hegelian political philosophy. Hegel’s reflections on the characteristics of the state and public administration came to Goodnow’s attention from such scholars as John Burgess, Francis Lieber, Lorenz von Stein, Johann C. Bluntschli, and Rudolph von Gneist. Hegelian philosophy helped Goodnow to deal with the intellectual challenges of the progressive era. The article concludes with a discussion of Hegelian political philosophy as a source of inspiration for contemporary administrative ethics.