This paper aims to present Hayek?s view of cultural evolution as an important contribution to contemporary evolutionary epistemology. However, despite the importance of Hayek?s theory of cultural evolution, the tension between his concept of rational liberalism and evolutionary epistemology will be pointe out. This tension limits Hayek?s understanding of cultural evolution. Hayek?s conception of rational liberalism emphasizes the values of individual freedom and benefits of the market system. The term evolutionary epistemology includes the economic phenomena that occur without the participation (...) of consciousness, on the one hand, and activities with the element of purposefulness and intelligibility, on the other. (shrink)

This paper aims to present Hayek?s view of cultural evolution as an important contribution to contemporary evolutionary epistemology. However, despite the importance of Hayek?s theory of cultural evolution, the tension between his concept of rational liberalism and evolutionary epistemology will be pointe out. This tension limits Hayek?s understanding of cultural evolution. Hayek?s conception of rational liberalism emphasizes the values of individual freedom and benefits of the market system. The term evolutionary epistemology includes the economic phenomena that occur without the participation (...) of consciousness, on the one hand, and activities with the element of purposefulness and intelligibility, on the other. (shrink)