A Study Of Hayek’s Individualism Under Marx’s View On Individuals

Hayek’s individualism ideology borrows ideas from the theories of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, David Hume and others on human nature selfishness, viewing Adam Smith’s economic theory of free competition in the market as the theoretical core of individualism ideology. He absorbed Carl Menger’s Methodological Individualism and Ludwig Mises’ critical theory on Socialist Planned Economy to establish a complete ideological system of individualism covering economic, political, legal and many other aspects as well.Hayek’s individualism ideology contains two interrelated aspects: true individualism and the spontaneous order. The true individualism theory regards "individual" as the subject of social behavior. On the one hand, it opposes the annihilation of individual interest by the whole social interest; on the other hand, it is also against the unrestricted egotistical and anarchic social behaviors which are constructed to fulfill individual demands. The spontaneous order theory is based on the individual’s ontological position, emphasizing on coordinating the relations between individual and individual, individual and society through the spontaneous behaviors of individuals in society. While the social functions and the existence significance of public power lie in its strict accordance with the requirements of the legal system to regulate its own behaviors, which is the precondition of being a good defender and judge of the interests of social individuals.The thesis examines Hayek’s individualism from the perspectives of Marx’s individual view and historical materialism, finding it overemphasizing the freedom of individual spontaneous behaviors and rationalities of unbalanced social development. It weakens the constraining capacities of public power and overlooks the necessity to achieve social justice. Therefore, it is difficult for the individualistic theory he strongly advocates to achieve true individual freedom and comprehensive development because of its lack of powerful regulations and constraints. All in all, it is just a "fatal conceit."...