

Jason Riley – Thomas Sowell's Path from Marx to Hayek
19 snips Sep 12, 2025
Jason Riley, a writer for the Wall Street Journal and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, dives deep into the remarkable journey of Thomas Sowell. He discusses Sowell's evolution from Marxism to his embrace of free-market principles influenced by Friedrich Hayek. The conversation highlights the contrasting visions of human nature that shape societal debates, and how Sowell's candid approach to race has impacted his career. Riley uncovers how Sowell’s writings, including 'Knowledge and Decisions,' successfully bridge economic theory and practical insights.
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Sowell’s Real Intellectual Center
- Thomas Sowell's core intellectual legacy is in economic history and political philosophy rather than race commentary.
- His books Knowledge and Decisions and A Conflict of Visions define the framework he applies to social issues.
From Marxian Beginnings To Chicago Support
- Sowell began as a Marxist and published early work on Marxian economics.
- Stigler and Friedman secretly secured funding because they believed he'd outgrow socialism.
Knowledge, Prices, And Decentralized Decision-Making
- Knowledge and Decisions extends Hayek's insight that dispersed knowledge is coordinated by price signals.
- Sowell uses that to critique centralized planning and emphasize decision-making incentives.