Abstract
One of the most controversial aspects of Hayek's social theory was his acceptance of the concept of cultural group selection. The publication of Unto Others: The Evolution and Psychology of Unselfish Behavior provides an opportunity to revisit this much-maligned component of Hayek's thought. Sober and Wilson are concerned with biological group selection, but much of their argument is equally applicable to cultural group selection. This essay revisits Hayek's views on cultural group selection in light of the model proposed by Sober and Wilson. Comparing their model to Hayek's model suggests that group selection theories are more plausible than traditionally thought and that their viability in any given situation is an empirical, not an a priori, question. So long as there are benefits to a group from greater levels of altruism and cooperation, and so long as free rider problems can be mitigated, group selection models are plausible.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alchian, A. A. (1977 [1950]) “Uncertainty, Evolution and Economic Theory.” The Journal of Political Economy 58(3): 211–21; reprinted in Economic Forces at Work, pp. 15–36. Indianapolis, IN: Liberty Press.
Alchian, A. A. and Demsetz, H. (1972) “Production, Information Costs, and Economic Organization.” American Economic Review 62: 777–795.
Benson, B. L. (1999) “An Economic Theory of the Evolution of Governance and the Emergence of the State.” Working Paper, Florida State University, Department of Economics, Tallahassee, FL.
Boettke, P. J. (1998) “Promises Made and Promises Broken in the Russian Transition.” Constitutional Political Economy 9(2): 133–142.
Boyd, R. and Richerson, P. J. (1992) “Punishment Allows the Evolution of Cooperation (or Anything Else) in Sizable Groups.” Ethology and Sociobiology 13: 171–195.
Carneiro, R. L. (1977 [1970]) A Theory of the Origin of the State. Menlo Park, CA: Institute for Humane Studies. Science 169: 733–738.
Dawkins, R. (1989) The Selfish Gene. New York: Oxford University Press.
Frank, R. H. (1988) Passions Within Reason: The Strategic Role of the Emotions. New York: W. W. Norton.
Grady, M. and McGuire, M. (in press) “The Nature of Constitutions.” Bioeconomics 1(3).
Hamilton, W. (1964) “The Genetical Evolution of Social Behavior (Parts I and II).” Journal of Theoretical Biology 7: 1–16, 17–52.
Hayek, F. A. (1988) “The Fatal Conceit: The Errors of Socialism,” In: Bartley III, W. W. (Ed.) The Collected Works of F.A. Hayek. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Hayek, F. A. (1984) “The Origins and Effects of Our Morals: A Problem for Science.” In: Nishiyama, C. and Leube, K. R. (eds.) The Essence of Hayek. Stanford, CA: Hoover Institution Press.
Hayek, F. A. (1973) Law, Legislation, and Liberty, Vol. 1: Rules and Order. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Hodgson, G. M. (1991) “Hayek's Theory of Cultural Evolution: An Evaluation in Light of Vanberg”s Critique.” Economics and Philosophy 7: 67–82.
McKenzie, R. and Tullock, G. (1975) The New World of Economics. Homewood, IL: Richard Irwin.
Olson, M. (1982) The Rise and Decline of Nations: Economic Growth, Stagflation, and Social Rigidities. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Oppenheimer, F. (1975 [1914]) The State. New York: Free Life Editions, Inc.
Ridley, M. (1997) The Origins of Virtue: Human Instincts and the Evolution of Cooperation. New York: Viking.
Rubin, P. H. (1999) “Group Selection and the Limits of Altruism.”Working Paper, Emory University, Department of Economics and School of Law.
Shearmur, J. (1996) Hayek and After: Hayekian Liberalism as a Research Programme. New York: Routledge.
Sherman, P. (1977) “Nepotism and the Evolution of Alarm Calls.” Science 197: 1246–1253.
Sober, E. and Wilson, D. S. (1988) Unto Others: The Evolution and Psychology of Unselfish Behavior. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Trivers, R. L. (1971) “The Evolution of Reciprocal Altruism.” Quarterly Review of Biology 46, 35–57.
Waal, F. de. (1982) Chimpanzee Politics: Power and Sex among Apes. London: Jonathan Cape.
Waal, F. de. (1996) Good Natured: The Origins of Right and Wrong in Humans and Other Animals. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Waal, F. de. (1999) “Cultural Primatology Comes of Age.” Nature 399: 635–636.
Wilkinson, G. (1984) “Reciprocal Food Sharing in Vampire Bats.” Nature 308: 181–184.
Vanberg, V. (1986) “Spontaneous Market Order and Social Rules: A Critique of F.A. Hayek”s Theory of Cultural Evolution.” Economics and Philosophy 2: 75–100.
Vogel, G. (1999) “Chimps in the Wild Show Stirrings of Culture.” Science 284: 2070–2073.
Whiten, A. et al. (1999) “Cultures in Chimpanzees.” Nature 399: 682–685.
Whitman, D. G. (1998) “Hayek contra Pangloss on Evolutionary Systems.” Constitutional Political Economy 9: 45–66.
Zywicki, T. J. (1999) “Bankruptcy and Reciprocity.” Working Paper, George Mason University School of Law, Arlington, VA.
Zywicki, T. J. (in press) “The State of Nature and the Nature of the State: Comment on Grady and McGuire.” Bioeconomics 1(3).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zywicki, T.J. “Was Hayek Right About Group Selection After All?” Review Essay of Unto Others: The Evolution and Psychology of Unselfish Behavior, by Elliott Sober and David Sloan Wilson. The Review of Austrian Economics 13, 81–95 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007806214727
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007806214727