The Chicago School’s founding figures were often marginalized or despaired of its creation.

Evidence

This chapter diminishes the importance of certain figures who have often loomed large in the folklore, such as Frank Knight or Jacob Viner; it reevaluates the role of others, such as Milton Friedman; and it elevates to prime positions some neglected figures such as Friedrich Hayek, Henry Simons, and Aaron Director. The tale is studded with poignant ironies, such as the fact that the prime external contractor for the erection of the Chicago School would not then be accepted as a member in good standing of the Economics Department once it got off the ground; or that the prime architect so despaired of ever convincing the subcontractors to get the foundations laid that he committed suicide. — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 714

Categorization

• QUESTION: Who is the architect who committed suicide, and who is the external contractor who was not accepted into the department? The author withholds the names here.
• CANDY: The detail that the Chicago School’s prime architect despaired so deeply he committed suicide is a striking, conversation-ready irony.
• XREF: connects to: The Chicago School’s neoliberal network included prominent figures often thought hostile to it — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin: The Making…, 719; Frank Knight is misattributed as Chicago School founder, obscuring Hayek’s role — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin: The Making…, 764; Aaron Director’s conversion from leftist politics shaped the Chicago School’s formation — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin: The Making…, 732 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• The Chicago School’s founding involved doctrinal negotiation, not just funding #complicates (0.78) — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 761
• Frank Knight is misattributed as Chicago School founder, obscuring Hayek’s role #qualifies (0.75) — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 764
• The Chicago School’s neoliberal network included prominent figures often thought hostile to it #exemplifies (0.72) — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 719
• Aaron Director’s conversion from leftist politics shaped the Chicago School’s formation #complicates (0.72) — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 732
• The Chicago School’s rise was part of a transnational postwar project of building neoliberalism. #expands (0.72) — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 713
• The Chicago School was founded by Simons and Hayek with Volker Fund money #qualifies (0.70) — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 155