Methodological individualisM and cultural evolution : ontogenetic and Phylogenetic aPProaches to social order

This paper is about the alleged tension between methodological individualism and evolutionary ideas in the work of Friedrich Hayek. This issue is much debated, but I focus my attention on a quite original incompatibility argument by Geoffrey Hodgson. Hodgson sympathizes with the evolutionary Hayek, arguing that Hayek’s methodological individualism involves an “ontogenetic” approach to social science, while his evolutionary thinking suggests a “phylogenetic” approach. “Ontogeny” refers to the development not only of organisms but also of social systems on the basis of fixed developmental rules, while “phylogeny” refers to the evolution of such entities through selection Jan Willem Lindemans ([email protected]) is a visiting scholar at the Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Program of the University of Pennsylvania. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the sixth conference of the International Network for Economic Method under the title “Methodological Individualism as an Ontogenetic Approach to Social Order.” The research was funded by the Center for Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy at the KU Leuven. The author thanks the participants at the conference, Toon Vandevelde, and an anonymous referee for the comments and suggestions. He emphasizes that remaining errors are entirely his responsibility. VOL. 15 | N 3 | 331–369 FALL 2012 The