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What Would Hayek Say?

What Would Hayek Say?

By: Scott B. Nelson
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"What Would Hayek Say?" is a series dedicated to applying the ideas and philosophy of the Austrian economist and philosopher Friedrich August von Hayek to current political problems.

Throughout his life Hayek shied away from offering a running commentary on day-to-day politics, preferring instead to maintain the philosophical distance necessary to contemplate serious problems with a profundity nearly unequaled in the 20th century. However, he was anything but unconcerned with the politics of his time. Hayek was one of the most vocal and cogent defenders of individual liberty and liberal democratic regimes against the various manifestations of totalitarianism in the 20th century, whether in their fascist, Nazi, Soviet, or socialist forms.

His commitment to individual liberty, equality before the law, and the civilization built on these principles is as relevant in the 21st century as it was in the 20th. With so much disorder in the world, Hayek's clear thinking, elegant prose, and generous spirit can help us think through some of the most pressing issues of our time.

If you have any suggestions for future topics you would like us to cover from Hayek's perspective, please let us know in the comments!

And don't forget to like and subscribe!

All rights reserved. Philosophy Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Science vs Scientism

    Science vs Scientism
    Feb 7 2023

    Science is very popular in our time. As is science-based policy-making. But we don't always properly understand science, how it should be conducted, and how it should relate to our politics. In this week's "What Would Hayek Say?", we take a look at some of Hayek's work on the folly of applying natural science methods to the social sciences, which is part of what Hayek calls "scientism". For Hayek, the social sciences are distinguished from the natural sciences by a subjective factor, in that we take into account actors' intentions, opinions, and goals. Because we must start at the individual, subjective level, the social sciences are compositive in a way that the natural sciences are not. The social sciences predict a degree of complexity and unpredictability that should make us reflect on how we apply them to political decision-making.

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    Scott B. Nelson is Research and Strategy Advisor at the Austrian Economics Center and Hayek Institut in Vienna, Austria. He is author of "Tragedy and History: The German Influence on Raymond Aron's Political Thought". His next book is "Cicero, Politics, and the 21st Century" to be published in 2022 by Academica Press. Nelson heads the reading group The Vienna Symposium (https://vienna-symposium.com).

    ***

    Please don't forget to like and subscribe! If you're really enjoying our work and would like to help out, then consider donating to the cause: https://www.austriancenter.com/suppor...

    Every little bit helps us immensely.

    ***

    Check out our website for more great content: https://www.austriancenter.com/

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    Show More Show Less
    17 mins
  • Universal Basic Income (UBI)

    Universal Basic Income (UBI)
    Jan 30 2023
    Universal Basic Income, or UBI, is an old idea that keeps coming back, especially when people consider the cost of living for the average individual. In this week's "What Would Hayek Say?" we take a look at this concept, which has appealed to some socialists and liberals alike, although for different reasons. Milton Friedman, for example, popularized the idea of a negative income tax, which some have likened to a universal basic income. And scholars have used Hayek's own philosophy to argue both for and against UBI, even if Hayek himself did not explicitly express his view on the matter. A universal basic income rests on two criteria: universality and unconditionality. The first of these criteria was dear to Hayek, and in both his early and late work he is open to some sort of a minimum safety net for all people. But whether UBI fits Hayek's criteria or not is a matter of dispute. Finally, our video looks at some of the practical issues raised by a universal basic income, foremost among them being its cost, as well as the experience of Switzerland and Finland which have both explored the idea in their own countries.*** Sources cited : https://www.niskanencenter.org/hayek-... https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.c... https://www.independent.org/pdf/tir/t... *** Scott B. Nelson is Research and Strategy Advisor at the Austrian Economics Center and Hayek Institut in Vienna, Austria. He is author of "Tragedy and History: The German Influence on Raymond Aron's Political Thought". His latest book is "Cicero, Politics, and the 21st Century". Nelson heads the reading group The Vienna Symposium (https://vienna-symposium.com). *** Please don't forget to like and subscribe! If you're really enjoying our work and would like to help out, then consider donating to the cause: https://www.austriancenter.com/suppor... Every little bit helps us immensely. *** Check out our website for more great content: https://www.austriancenter.com/ Stay up to date by signing up for our newsletter: https://www.austriancenter.com/newsle... Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustrianCenter Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AustrianEcon... Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/austriancen...
    Show More Show Less
    17 mins
  • Capitalism Promotes Generosity

    Capitalism Promotes Generosity
    Dec 24 2022

    Capitalism has an unfair reputation for being about selfishness. It isn't. It's about choice. And one of those choices which we are particularly mindful of around Christmas is the choice of giving. In this Christmas special of "What Would Hayek Say" we take a look at how capitalism and individualism not only promote more prosperity, but also encourage us to be more generous to strangers.

    ***

    Scott B. Nelson is Research and Strategy Advisor at the Austrian Economics Center and Hayek Institut in Vienna, Austria. He is author of "Tragedy and History: The German Influence on Raymond Aron's Political Thought". His latest book is "Cicero, Politics, and the 21st Century". Nelson heads the reading group The Vienna Symposium (https://vienna-symposium.com).

    ***

    Please don't forget to like and subscribe! If you're really enjoying our work and would like to help out, then consider donating to the cause: https://www.austriancenter.com/suppor...

    Every little bit helps us immensely.

    ***

    Check out our website for more great content: https://www.austriancenter.com/

    Stay up to date by signing up for our newsletter: https://www.austriancenter.com/newsle...

    Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustrianCenter

    Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AustrianEcon...

    Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/austriancen...
    Show More Show Less
    11 mins
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