F. A. Hayek’s Family and the Vienna Circles

Center for the History of Political Economy at Duke University Working Paper Series

26 Pages Posted: 12 May 2021

See all articles by Bruce Caldwell

Bruce Caldwell

Duke University - Department of Economics

Hansjoerg Klausinger

Vienna University of Economics and Business

Date Written: May 11, 2021

Abstract

This working paper – like its companion, Caldwell and Klausinger 2021 – grew out of the authors’ joint work on Hayek: A Life 1899–1950 (Caldwell and Klausinger 2022) and it contains material supplementing it. This paper examines the intellectual circles of fin-desiécle Vienna in which the Hayek family moved and which therefore shaped Fritz’s education. After looking at the academics within the Hayek family we turn towards the intellectual communities in which Friedrich’s father, August von Hayek, participated. Here we focus on the various associations of biologists and botanists and on the so-called “Brunnwinkl community.” We show that participation in these circles resulted in Fritz coming in close contact with future Nobel prize winners like Erwin Schrödinger, Karl von Frisch and Konrad Lorenz. Austrian School economists Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk and Friedrich von Wieser were also among the close friends of the Hayek family. Finally, we point out a link to Austria’s early liberal women’s movement.

Keywords: Friedrich Hayek, Juraschek, Wieser, Böhm-Bawerk, Schrödinger, Exner, Vienna, Brunnwinkl, liberalism, Austrian women’s movement

JEL Classification: B10, B13, B31

Suggested Citation

Caldwell, Bruce J. and Klausinger, Hansjoerg, F. A. Hayek’s Family and the Vienna Circles (May 11, 2021). Center for the History of Political Economy at Duke University Working Paper Series, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3844096 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3844096

Bruce J. Caldwell (Contact Author)

Duke University - Department of Economics ( email )

213 Social Sciences Building
Box 90097
Durham, NC 27708
United States
919-660-6896 (Phone)
919-681-7984 (Fax)

Hansjoerg Klausinger

Vienna University of Economics and Business ( email )

Welthandelsplatz 1
Vienna, Wien 1020
Austria

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