Social Evolution: Buchanan and Hayek

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).