Abstract
Marx was an evolutionist who believed that unguided unfolding would lead inevitably to collective betterment. So was Hayek, who argued in effect that ‘basic institutional change will somehow spontaneously evolve in the direction of structural efficiency’ (CW X, 166n). Such thinking, in Buchanan’s words, has done ‘great damage’: ‘Hayek is so distrustful of man’s explicit attempts at reforming institutions that he accepts uncritically the evolutionary alternative. We may share much of Hayek’s skepticism about social and institutional reform, however, without elevating the evolutionary process to an ideal role. Reform may, indeed, be difficult, but this is no argument that its alternative is ideal’ (LL, 194n).
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
Copyright information
© 2015 David Reisman
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Reisman, D. (2015). Social Evolution: Buchanan and Hayek. In: James Buchanan. Great Thinkers in Economics Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137427182_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137427182_5
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-49105-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-42718-2
eBook Packages: Palgrave Economics & Finance CollectionEconomics and Finance (R0)