Hayek's Social and Political Thought

Abstract

Abstract This book examines the work of one of the most controversial figures in recent social and political thought. Revered by some as the most important 20th century theorist of the free society, Friedrich A. Hayek has been reviled by others as a mere reactionary. The book offers a clear exposition and balanced assessment that judges Hayek's theory on its own merits. This book argues that the key to understanding Hayek lies in an appreciation of the proper link between descriptive social science and normative political theory. It probes the idea of a spontaneous order and other notions central to Hayek's thought and concludes that they are unable to provide the 'scientific' foundation Hayek seeks for his liberalism. By drawing out the distinctive character of Hayek's thought, the book presents a picture of this important social and political theorist.