Machan, M.J.

English

This dissertation is an examination of the social
philosophy of F. A. Hayek, with especial reference to
his critique of social justice. Hayek's critique is
built upon his overall social philosophy. The first
part of the dissertation, therefore, is an explication
of certain essential elements of that philosophy:
to wit, the spontaneous order, rules of just conduct,
law, justice, and lastly the critique of social
justice itself. The second part of the dissertation
is a critical analysis of Hayek's argument. I first
consider whether the idea of the spontaneous order
and Hayek's conception of justice are viable independently
of any conflicts with social justice, concluding
that there are some problems with these elements.
Next, I examine the critique of social justice: considering
first whether social justice is inevitably
incompatible with Hayek's social order, and then considering
whether the rejection of social justice is
compatible with the normative premise which underlies
Hayek's philosophy. I conclude that Hayek has problems
on both of these fronts. I finish by presenting a
general appraisal of the merits and value of Hayek's
critique of social justice

Machan, Michael J.

Edinburgh Research Archive

F. A. Hayek and the mirage of social justice

1 have borrowed tF-e idea of developmental needs from William Galston, op. cit.,

137. j iff,

14. to the problems involved in a breakdown 3. in relation of consensus, it is worth looking at what Simpson has to say about the role of consensus in

235 APPENDIX II FOOTNOTES The bulk of the citations in this dissertation are to the works of

33; see also MSJ,

34; see also RO

39; see also MSJ,

49 MSJ' p- 90-50: F-Si,

98, where it is held that Hayek se es iquality of liberty rather than the harm principle as the qualifier of individual liberty.

A Theory Of

also excludes perfectionist considerations from the realm of social justice (op. cit.,

CL p. 41. 14o R 15. Si P-

Conservative and Prosthetic Justice&quot; in Justice and

e er C5 Ca týý _S even a ýýei e IC aim P-Irelman,

ff.; s'ee also Raymond Plant et al.,

For a comprehensive examination of the seminal role of Hayek's epistemology in ' his philosophical system see John Gray, Hayek On'Liberty (Blackwell,

For a detailed discussion by a needs based principle example,

For a similar use of strong and weak oughts see

for ii somewhat similar thought.

Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals,

Hart7-s argument that one of the factors distinguishing a social rule from a mere habit is that deviation therefrom is considered justified grounds for

Hayek -&quot;The Principles of a Liberal Social order&quot;,

I&quot;

Ileyd, David: -supererogation,

IndividUa7fism: True and False&quot;

Justice and the Human Gooil (_Ufffcago,

Justice in the Distribution of Economic Resources, Alm-qvist & Wikselr-,

Kinds of Rationalism&quot;

Kinds of Ratýionalism&quot;

Legal Reasoning and Legal Theory

Legal Reasoning and Legal Theory,

Marxism, Liberalism and Justice&quot; in Eugene Kamenke and Alice Erh-Soon Tay, eds.,

Natural Law and Natural Ri hts

of the issues raised of justice see, for cit .,

P-rinýa Ethica (Cambridge,

Rawls, John: A Theory of Justice,

Social Justice (Oxford,

Social Justice in the Liberal State, Yale,

SýL 25. Raymond Plant, p. 45; see p. xiii for the attribution of EFIs chapter to Harry Lesser.

Taking Rights Seriously (Duckworth,

The Concept of Social Justice&quot;,

The Constitution of Liberty (Routledge & Kegan Paul,

The Mirage of Social Justice (Routledge & Kegan FiaTu-1,1976); The POliticail-Order of a Free People (Routledge & KeganPaul,

F.A. Hayek and the mirage of social justice.

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