Secret Government: The Pathologies of Publicity

Transparency in government is widely assumed to be good, but this book challenges that assumption and offers a comprehensive philosophical analysis of transparency, examining both abstract normative defenses and its role in institutional design.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 26 October 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Transparency in government is widely regarded as a positive aspect among politicians and policy-makers. However, philosophers have largely neglected this topic, and when it is discussed, there is a prevailing assumption that greater transparency is inherently beneficial. This assumption leads to a lack of rigorous justification for transparency. In his book, Brian Kogelmann challenges the conventional narrative and argues that many defenses of transparency are weak. He provides a comprehensive philosophical analysis of transparency in government, exploring both abstract normative justifications and its role in institutional design. Kogelmann's book reveals that even when the arguments in favor of transparency are compelling, the costs associated with it are equally significant, and there are strong arguments to be made for more opaque institutions.

Transparency in government is widely regarded as a positive aspect among politicians and policy-makers. However, philosophers have largely neglected this topic, and when it is discussed, there is a prevailing assumption that greater transparency is inherently beneficial. This assumption leads to a lack of rigorous justification for transparency. In his book, Brian Kogelmann challenges the conventional narrative and argues that many defenses of transparency are weak. He provides a comprehensive philosophical analysis of transparency in government, exploring both abstract normative justifications and its role in institutional design. Kogelmann's book reveals that even when the arguments in favor of transparency are compelling, the costs associated with it are equally significant, and there are strong arguments to be made for more opaque institutions.

Transparency in government is widely regarded as a positive aspect among politicians and policy-makers. However, philosophers have largely neglected this topic, and when it is discussed, there is a prevailing assumption that greater transparency is inherently beneficial. This assumption leads to a lack of rigorous justification for transparency. In his book, Brian Kogelmann challenges the conventional narrative and argues that many defenses of transparency are weak. He provides a comprehensive philosophical analysis of transparency in government, exploring both abstract normative justifications and its role in institutional design. Kogelmann's book reveals that even when the arguments in favor of transparency are compelling, the costs associated with it are equally significant, and there are strong arguments to be made for more opaque institutions.

Weight: 378g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108978248