Re: Hayek's Conception of Knowledge (wasRe:Harry Magdoff

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Charles Brown wrote,

> Secondly, this theory ignores the fact that the only "market" that has
> ever existed in the real world causes mass poverty and war. In other
> words, Hayek's satisfaction with the performance of the market in
> history ignores some very critical facts.

I don't know whether or not the "theory" ignores poverty and war, but the
central political practice that justifies itself by reference to the
theory holds that poverty and war are corrective mechanisms -- mysterious
proof, like business bankruptcies, of the uncanny wisdom of the invisible
hand. Of course, there is ample theological precedent for taking
catastrophe as a sign of God's providence. Poverty is God's/market's way
of punishing faithlessness and sloth. Don't ya know? War is God's way of
trampling out the vinyards where the (rogue) grapes of wrath are
stor'd. Glory Hallelujah.


Temps Walker
Sandwichman and Deconsultant