The Study Of Simon’s Public Administrative Methodology

Herbert·A·Simon(1916-2001) can be regarded as a only encyclopedic man in the history of the western public administration development. He has done extensive research in politics, economics, psychics, computer science and other fields. As is known to us, Simon had set the agenda of positivism in public administrative field, which opened up a new era of public administration study. So he is a standard because of what he did. At the methodological level, Simon’s public administrative methodology includes logical positivism methodology, behavior-rism methodology, pragmatism methodology, holism methodology and individualism methodo-logy, which successfully developed into a theoretical system. However, there are a few studies about Simon’s administrative thoughts at home and abroad currently, let alone study on his methodology. Therefore, it is necessary to do supplementary research on Simon’s administrative methodology. This paper is intended to analyze Simon’s public administrative methodology and its composition system comprehensively and deeply on the basis of predecessors’ research. Further more, we can bring and absorb the value which is in accordance with our national condition. This paper holds that the methodology mainly constituted by three parts:ontology, epistemology and detailed methods. From the view of the entire structure, this paper will be discussed from the following six chapters.In this paper, the first chapter is the introduction, which mainly introduces the research significance, research methods, possible innovations, as well as defines the related concepts and reviews the current research situation at home and abroad.The second chapter is about the discussion on the production and development process of Simon’s public administrative methodology. Simon questioned and criticized the methodology of Traditional public administration and make his administrative methodology deeply rooted in Barnard’s, Carnap’s, Merriam’s and other predecessors’ research which had profound philosophical or behavioral implications.The third chapter and the fourth chapter are mainly discussed from the view of ontology and epistemology. Ontology, epistemology and methodology are interconnected. Therefore, the choosing of the methodology is greatly depended on the basic of the ontology and epistemology In these two chapters, the basic of Simon’s administrative ontology and epistemology are provided in detail.The fifth chapter is a key and difficult one which analyzes the system of Simon’s public administrative methodology. It includes logical positivism methodology, pragmatism methodology, holism methodology and individualism methodology.In the conclusion part, the impacts of Simon’s public administrative methodology are discussed. Especially, the enlightenment and value for our public administration are worth studying seriously.