Neoliberal discourse conflated the transcendental with epistemic claims about human frailty

Evidence

Yet the neoliberals were often tone-deaf when it came to the transcendental, conflating it with their epistemic doctrines concerning human frailty: “we must preserve that indispensable matrix of the uncontrolled and non-rational which is the only environment wherein reason can grow and operate effectively” (Hayek 1960, 69). — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 2135

Categorization

• XREF: Hayek’s ‘uncontrolled and non-rational matrix’ echoes themes from conservative traditionalism — this is a useful bridge to the antirationalist strand in Anglo-conservatism. — connects to: Neoliberalism’s deliberate epistemic inconsistencies enabled its long-term success; Neoliberalism reframed politics as an epistemological question of what can be known — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 54; Neoliberal theories succeed as policy rhetoric despite having scant evidence — Mark Blyth, Austerity: The History of a Dangerous…, 425 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Neoliberalism reframed politics as an epistemological question of what can be known #corroborates (0.78) — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 54
• Neoliberal theories succeed as policy rhetoric despite having scant evidence #corroborates (0.75) — Mark Blyth, Austerity, 425
• Neoliberalism’s deliberate epistemic inconsistencies enabled its long-term success #corroborates (0.72)
• Neoliberal crisis narratives redirect blame from structures onto individual psychology #corroborates (0.72) — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 433