Review of "Law, Legislation and Liberty" by Friedrich August von Hayek (Besprechung von "Recht, Gesetz und Freiheit" von F.A. v. Hayek)

Abstract

Written mainly in the 1960s the three-volume work „Law, Legislation and Liberty“ offers a comprehensive summary of Friedrich August von Hayek’s social philosophy and philosophy of law, his political economy and his analysis of contemporary democracy including the dangers for individual liberty. The volume at hand entitled "Recht, Gesetz und Freiheit" is based on a new translation into German in the context of the additional project of Hayek’s collected works in German ("Gesammelte Schriften in deutscher Sprache"). It is divided into three parts which correspond to the three volumes originally published separately. These parts deal with rules and order, the mirage of social justice and the political order of a free people. They are complemented by Hayek’s own essay. The Three Sources of Human Values“ and a bibliographic epilogue by the editor Viktor Vanberg as well as an extensive index of names and subjects, respectively. "Recht, Gesetz und Freiheit" contains a number of original arguments that deserve a critical discussion even today. The new publication of the work in the context of the additional project of Hayek’s collected works in German should therefore encourage the renewed and intensive examination of his social philosophy and philosophy of law, his analysis of the deficiencies of parliamentary democracy and his proposed solutions.

Note: Downloadable document is in German.

Keywords: F.A.V. Hayek, Liberty, Constitution, Philosophy of Law, Social Philosophy, Social Justice, Democracy, Parliamentary Democracy, Liberalism, Competitive Order, Spontaneous Order, Property, Catallaxis, Model Constitution

JEL Classification: B25, P48, Y3