The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie

The Libertarian Case for Postmodernism

57 snips
Aug 6, 2025
Mark Pennington, a Professor of Political Economy at King's College London, dives into the intriguing connections between Michel Foucault and Friedrich Hayek. He explores how Foucault’s critiques of centralized power and scientism align with Hayek’s warnings about the limits of knowledge. The discussion challenges conventional views on libertarianism and postmodernism, emphasizing the power dynamics in knowledge creation and the critique of expert rule. Expect a mind-bending conversation that reshapes your understanding of freedom and governance!
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INSIGHT

Postmodernism Meets Austrian Economics

  • Postmodernism and Austrian economics share skepticism toward universal truth claims and scientism.
  • Both emphasize human creativity and the limits of knowledge in complex social phenomena.
INSIGHT

Dynamics of Scientism and Expertise

  • Scientific expertise can unintentionally create power structures that stifle pluralism of thought.
  • Experts have incentives to maintain their authority, often limiting dissenting opinions.
INSIGHT

No God's Eye Knowledge View

  • Both Foucault and Hayek reject a God's eye view of knowledge.
  • They acknowledge knowledge as perspectival and emphasize emergent phenomena shaping society.
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