The road to slavery (rare edition)
The book "The Road to Slavery" occupies an extremely important position in Hayek's academic career. This book has won him wide attention, and its worldwide reputation is thus established. In this book, he argued that the welfare state under planning at that time was not a continuation of the fight for individual freedom in peacetime, but a step towards autocracy. Therefore, he believes that the unconscious consequence of pursuing planned economy must be totalitarianism. In order to oppose this planned economy, Hayek forcefully reiterated the classical liberalism view that he had always adhered to. At the same time, moderate government activities were also allowed, but only those activities that conformed to his concept of rule of law. It should be emphasized that Hayek's liberalism includes appreciation of many useful social systems, but these systems can only be the result of human spontaneous action, not the result of human design. This argument is inherited from Hume, Adam Smith and the Scottish Historical School, and it occupies an important position in Hayek's works. From this point of view, Hayek believes that a good society does not simply rely on pursuing private interests within the legal framework provided by the government. On the contrary, it should rely on a complex framework of laws, moral traditions and rules of conduct. The characteristics of this framework should be understood and recognized by most members of society.
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