Austrian probabilistic thinking fused liberal anticlericalism with advocacy for social reform

Evidence

Within both disciplines, the Austrian scientific “culture of uncertainty” was unique in Europe: their embrace of probabilistic theory “was tied to a characteristically liberal and anticlerical rejection of absolute claims,” and “philosophers who challenged certitude often led efforts for social reform and popular scientific education.” — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 58

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the intellectual-history thread of Austrian economics’ actual roots in a probabilistic, fallibilist culture rather than the dogmatic certainty the stereotype assigns it — ties to Hayek’s later knowledge problem and the ‘culture of uncertainty.’ — connects to: Neoliberalism fused philosophy of science and political economy against totalitarianism — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 53; A new Left intellectual type combined Third World rhetoric with anti-communism — Aijaz Ahmad, In Theory: Nations, Classes, Literatures, 356; Austrian probabilism paired liberal anticlericalism with rejection of epistemic certainty. — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 58

Broader Connections

• Neoliberalism fused philosophy of science and political economy against totalitarianism #expands (0.80) — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 53
• A new Left intellectual type combined Third World rhetoric with anti-communism #expands (0.72) — Aijaz Ahmad, In Theory, 356