| Hayek's Challenge: An Intellectual Biography of F.A. Hayek Contributor(s): Caldwell, Bruce (Author) |
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ISBN: 0226091937 ISBN-13: 9780226091938 Publisher: University of Chicago Press OUR PRICE: $36.63 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: November 2005 Annotation: Friedrich A. Hayek is regarded as one of the preeminent economic theorists of the twentieth century, as much for his work outside of economics as for his work within it. During a career spanning several decades, he made contributions in fields as diverse as psychology, political philosophy, the history of ideas, and the methodology of the social sciences. Bruce Caldwell--editor of "The Collected Works of F. A. Hayek"--understands Hayek's thought like few others, and with this book he offers us the first full intellectual biography of this pivotal social theorist. Caldwell begins by providing the necessary background for understanding Hayek's thought, tracing the emergence, in fin-de-siecle Vienna, of the Austrian school of economics--a distinctive analysis forged in the midst of contending schools of thought. In the second part of the book, Caldwell follows the path by which Hayek, beginning from the standard Austrian assumptions, gradually developed his unique perspective on not only economics but a broad range of social phenomena. In the third part, Caldwell offers both an assessment of Hayek's arguments and, in an epilogue, an insightful estimation of how Hayek's insights can help us to clarify and reexamine changes in the field of economics during the twentieth century. As Hayek's ideas matured, he became increasingly critical of developments within mainstream economics: his works grew increasingly contrarian and evolved in striking--and sometimes seemingly contradictory--ways. Caldwell is ideally suited to explain the complex evolution of Hayek's thought, and his analysis here is nothing short of brilliant, impressively situating Hayek in a broader intellectual context, unpacking the often difficult turns in his thinking, and showing how his economic ideas came to inform his ideas on the other social sciences. "Hayek's Challenge" will be received as one of the most important works published on this thinker in recent decades. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Biography & Autobiography | Business - Business & Economics | Economics - Theory |
| Dewey: B |
| Physical Information: 1.08" H x 5.88" W x 8.6" (1.58 lbs) 500 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Friedrich A. Hayek is regarded as one of the preeminent social theorists of the twentieth century as much for his work outside of economics as for his work within it. During a career spanning several decades, he made contributions in fields as diverse as psychology, political philosophy, the history of ideas, and the methodology of the social sciences. Bruce Caldwell--editor of "The Collected Works of F. A. Hayek"--understands Hayek's thought like few others, and with this book he offers us the first full intellectual biography of this pivotal economic theorist. As Hayek's ideas matured, he became increasingly critical of developments within mainstream economics; his works evolved in striking--and sometimes seemingly contradictory--ways. Caldwell is ideally suited to explain the complex evolution of Hayek's thought, and his analysis here is nothing short of brilliant, impressively situating Hayek in a broader intellectual context, unpacking the often difficult turns in his thinking, and showing how his economic ideas came to inform his ideas on the other social sciences. "Hayek is fortunate in his biographer. "Hayek's Challenge "is a success, and Caldwell proves himself capable of presenting Hayek's ideas--in all fields--with both depth and clarity. . . . Hayek's challenge is worth remembering, and Bruce Caldwell has done a great service by reminding us of it."--Jason Steorts, "National Review ""Bruce Caldwell's intellectual biography of the great Austrian is a wonderful work."--Richard D. North, "Independent" (UK) |
Contributor Bio(s): Caldwell, Bruce: - Bruce Caldwell is research professor of economics and the director of the Center for the History of Political Economy at Duke University. Since 2002, he has also served as the general editor of the Collected Works of F. A. Hayekseries. |
