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The theme addressed is the criticism of constructivism and rationalism in politics as presented in the political theory of F. A. Hayek. Hayek's thesis is that goal‐directed rationality in politics is counter‐final. The main argument of this article is that on closer examination Hayek appears to be a constructivist himself. The purpose of Hayek's anti‐rationalism is primarily ideological and instrumental. Hayek wants to induce certain anti‐rationalistic beliefs because he believes rationalism has bad consequences. Yet this very project can be considered a case of goal‐directed rationality. Furthermore, the argument is that Hayek mixes abstract philosophical doctrine with empirical theory. In his critique of constructivism, Hayek confuses two notions of 'rationality'. On the one hand he argues against epistemological rationalism associated with Descartes, and on the other he argues against the subjectivistic, action‐oriented notion of 'rationality' associated with the idea of 'economic man'. Arguments against Cartesian rationalism do not, however, imply the impossibility of goal‐directed rationalism in politics. The so‐called information problem cannot be solved at an epistemological level. It is a practical problem, which Hayek has certain ideas how to solve. The argument here, therefore, is that Hayek's thesis of 'tacit knowledge' is not an expression of skepticism as is often believed.

Compares the thought of Alasdair MacIntyre & F. A. Hayek with respect to the failure of Enlightenment & the abuse of reason. Attention is given to how each conceptualizes the Enlightenment Project, the impact of its failure, the nature of human action & scientific inquiry, & linkages between these ideas & modern bureaucracy & social planning. Revealed is a movement down from the Enlightenment to emotivism to scientism to social planning.

Introduction-- Sandra J. Peart & David M. Levy PART I: FOUNDATIONS 1. On Hayek's Unsentimental Liberalism-- Peter McNamara 2. F. A. Hayek and the 'Individualists'-- Sandra J. Peart and David M. Levy PART II: CONTRIBUTIONS TO POLITICAL ECONOMY IN THEORY AND PRACTICE 3. The Evolution, Evaluation, and Reform of Social Morality: A Hayekean Analysis-- Gerald Gaus 4. Hayek and the Conditions of Freedom-- Kenneth Minogue 5. F. A. Hayek and the Early Foundations of Spontaneous Order-- Emily Skarbek 6. Hayek and the Nomothetes-- Christopher S. Martin PART III: HAYEK AND POLICY-MAKING 7. The Control of Engagement Order: Attlee's Road to Serfdom?-- Andrew Farrant and Nicola Tynan 8. Hayekian Perspectives on Canada's Economic and Social Reforms of the 1990s-- Jason Clemens and Niels Veldhuis 9. The Conjoint Quest for a Liberal Positive Program: 'Old Chicago,' Freiburg, and Hayek-- Ekkehard Kohler and Stefan Kolev 10. Hayek and My Life-- Vaclav Klaus Conclusion: The Hayek Difference-- David M. Levy and Sandra J. Peart