Abstract

A key aspect of Friedrich von Hayek’s thought is the importance he places on the concept of complexity and the way that it limits human capacities for knowledge and control. Interrogating the intersection of complexity, neoliberal theory and systems of gender relations, this paper examines the place of masculinity in Hayek’s work. Reading against the grain of Hayek’s texts, I draw out the gendered assumptions that are embedded in them to consider how hegemonic masculinities may provide sustenance to neoliberalism. Focusing on The road to serfdom and The fatal conceit, the paper argues that Hayek ultimately fails to fully embrace complexity because his texts enact and rely upon a masculine subject position that limits awareness of human embeddedness in social and natural systems.

摘要

弗里德里希·冯·哈耶克思想的一个关键方面是他对复杂性概念及其限制人类知识和控制能力的方式的重视。本文审视复杂性、新自由主义理论和性别关系系统的交集，考察了哈耶克作品中男性气质的地位。阅读哈耶克文本的主旨，我引出了嵌入其中的性别假设，以思考霸权男性气质如何为新自由主义提供支持。该论文着眼于通往奴役之路和致命的自负，认为哈耶克最终未能完全接受复杂性，因为他的文本制定并依赖男性主体的立场，这种立场限制了对人类嵌入社会和自然系统的认识。