The Fatal Conceit: The Errors of Socialism (The Collected Works of F. A. Hayek)

The Fatal Conceit: The Errors of Socialism (The Collected Works of F. A. Hayek)
by F. A. Hayek

The Fatal Conceit: The Errors of Socialism (The Collected Works of F. A. Hayek)
List Price: $18.00
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions

Book Summary Information

Author: F. A. Hayek
Editor: W. W. Bartley III
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 1991-10-04
ISBN: 0226320669
Number of pages: 194
Publisher: University Of Chicago Press
Product features:

Book Reviews of The Fatal Conceit: The Errors of Socialism (The Collected Works of F. A. Hayek)

Book Review: Hayekian Socialism
Summary: 3 Stars

Hayek provides some solid insight into the failures of socialism, and deserves more than the single star rating I would otherwise give this book.

The problem is the foundation of his arguments. He argues for the free market on utilitarian grounds, which is so very vexing. Granted, he's an economist, and most economic arguments assume utilitarian form. But utilitarianism in this context, and most economic and political contexts, is necessarily collectivist.

He ends up sounding like a socialist, and assuming many socialist beliefs (e.g., evolutionary sociology) while obtusely rejecting the natural consequences of his own beliefs.

I now understand why somebody (I think it was Ludwig von Mises) accused him of being a socialist.

Summary of The Fatal Conceit: The Errors of Socialism (The Collected Works of F. A. Hayek)

Hayek gives the main arguments for the free-market case and presents his manifesto on the "errors of socialism." Hayek argues that socialism has, from its origins, been mistaken on factual, and even on logical, grounds and that its repeated failures in the many different practical applications of socialist ideas that this century has witnessed were the direct outcome of these errors. He labels as the "fatal conceit" the idea that "man is able to shape the world around him according to his wishes."

"The achievement of The Fatal Conceit is that it freshly shows why socialism must be refuted rather than merely dismissed-then refutes it again."-David R. Henderson, Fortune.

"Fascinating. . . . The energy and precision with which Mr. Hayek sweeps away his opposition is impressive."-Edward H. Crane, Wall Street Journal

F. A. Hayek is considered a pioneer in monetary theory, the preeminent proponent of the libertarian philosophy, and the ideological mentor of the Reagan and Thatcher "revolutions."

Theory Books

Book Subjects
Most talked about in Theory Books
Man, Economy, and State ImageMan, Economy, and State
by Murray N. Rothbard
Ludwig Von Mises Inst; Published: 1993-06-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $99.70
Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? ImageWhatever Happened to Penny Candy?
by Richard J. Maybury
Blue Stocking Press; Published: 2000-01-01; Paperback; Book
After Capitalism: Prout's Vision for a New World ImageAfter Capitalism: Prout's Vision for a New World
by Dada Maheshvarananda
Proutist Universal Publications; Published: 2003-01-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $205.08
Working With Americans: How to Build Profitable Business Relationships ImageWorking With Americans: How to Build Profitable Business Relationships
by Allyson Stewart Allen, Lanie Denslow
Financial Times Management; Published: 2002-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $21.07
Price in other shops: $57.50
Prophet of Innovation: Joseph Schumpeter and Creative Destruction ImageProphet of Innovation: Joseph Schumpeter and Creative Destruction
by Thomas K. McCraw
Belknap Press of Harvard University Press; Published: 2007-04-30; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $22.35
Price in other shops: $35.00
The New Economics for Industry, Government, Education - 2nd Edition ImageThe New Economics for Industry, Government, Education - 2nd Edition
by W. Edwards Deming
The MIT Press; Published: 2000-08-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.00
Price in other shops: $27.00
Portraits of Success: 9 Keys to Sustaining Value in Any Business ImagePortraits of Success: 9 Keys to Sustaining Value in Any Business
by James Olan Hutcheson
Dearborn Trade; Published: 2002-08-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.74
Price in other shops: $18.95
Democracy in America ImageDemocracy in America
by Alexis de Tocqueville
Random House/Modern Library; Published: 1988-10-13; Hardcover; Book
The Strategy and Tactics of Pricing: A Guide to Growing More Profitably (4th Edition) ImageThe Strategy and Tactics of Pricing: A Guide to Growing More Profitably (4th Edition)
by Thomas T. Nagle, John Hogan
Prentice Hall; Published: 2005-12-03; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $54.77
Price in other shops: $91.50
The Law ImageThe Law
by Frederic Bastiat
www.bnpublishing.com; Published: 2007-06-13; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $12.60
Price in other shops: $19.99
Similar Books and other products
Law, Legislation and Liberty, Volume 3: The Political Order of a Free People ImageLaw, Legislation and Liberty, Volume 3: The Political Order of a Free People
by F. A. Hayek
University Of Chicago Press; Published: 1981-03-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $19.94
Price in other shops: $28.00
LIBERALISM (Lib Works Ludwig Von Mises PB) ImageLIBERALISM (Lib Works Ludwig Von Mises PB)
by LUDWIG VON MISES
Liberty Fund Inc.; Published: 2005-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.99
Price in other shops: $14.50
Free to Choose: A Personal Statement ImageFree to Choose: A Personal Statement
by Milton Friedman, Rose Friedman
Harvest Books; Published: 1990-11-26; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.03
Price in other shops: $15.00
ANTI-CAPITALISTIC MENTALITY, THE (Lib Works Ludwig Von Mises PB) ImageANTI-CAPITALISTIC MENTALITY, THE (Lib Works Ludwig Von Mises PB)
by LUDWIG VON MISES
Liberty Fund Inc.; Published: 2009-12-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.97
Price in other shops: $12.00
SOCIALISM (Lib Works Ludwig Von Mises PB) ImageSOCIALISM (Lib Works Ludwig Von Mises PB)
by LUDWIG VON MISES
Liberty Fund Inc.; Published: 1981-11-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.54
Price in other shops: $14.50
Individualism and Economic Order ImageIndividualism and Economic Order
by F. A. Hayek
University Of Chicago Press; Published: 1996-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $17.94
Price in other shops: $21.00
Capitalism and Freedom: Fortieth Anniversary Edition ImageCapitalism and Freedom: Fortieth Anniversary Edition
by Milton Friedman
University Of Chicago Press; Published: 2002-11-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.90
Price in other shops: $16.00
Why Government Is the Problem (Essays in Public Policy) ImageWhy Government Is the Problem (Essays in Public Policy)
by Milton Friedman
Hoover Inst Pr; Published: 1993-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.00
The Constitution of Liberty ImageThe Constitution of Liberty
by F. A. Hayek
University Of Chicago Press; Published: 1978-10-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $16.11
Price in other shops: $26.00
The Road to Serfdom: Text and Documents--The Definitive Edition (The Collected Works of F. A. Hayek) ImageThe Road to Serfdom: Text and Documents--The Definitive Edition (The Collected Works of F. A. Hayek)
by F. A. Hayek
University Of Chicago Press; Published: 2007-03-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.25
Price in other shops: $17.00