从感觉秩序到竞争秩序——哈耶克的分散知识说及其批评

From Sensory Order to Competitive Order——F.A.Hayek's Dispersed Knowledge Theory and its Criticism

哈耶克从批评传统经济学静态均衡概念入手,对相应的"完美知识"假设提出了批评,从而提出了分散知识的概念。一个为研究者忽略的问题是,哈耶克进一步认为,我们是依赖于特定的类分系统来整理知识的,事实高度依赖于认识主体。知识的主观类分说为哈耶克的知识分散说构设了逻辑依托。而对分散的个人知识的处理完全依赖于一个作为发现程序的市场竞争。但是哈耶克对于市场竞争作用的过分强调受到了当代学者赫尔维茨等人的批评。批评的核心是人类是否可以干预自发演进的秩序。一般认为,"自发失序"必然要求干预。赫尔维茨等人的质疑促成了当代"机制设计理论"的形成。

As is well known, Hayek puts forward his dispersed knowledge theory based on his criticism of the theory of ＂perfect knowledge＂, where he criticizes the concept of stationary equilibrium alleged by traditional economic theory. And as is usually ignored, Hayek argued furthermore that facts in social sciences are highly dependent on the epistemic subject, and that we rely on a system of classification of objects to organize our knowledge. The theory of objective classification of knowledge offers an explanation to Hayek＇ s dispersed knowledge theory, while the organizing of dispersed individual knowledge is wholly dependent on the market competition as a discovery procedure. Hayek＇ s overemphasis on the role of market competition is criticized by contemporary scholars such as L. Liggio and L. Hurwicz, with the latter arguing, contrary to Hayek＇ s famous standpoint, against government intervention, that spontaneous disorder should demand human intervention. Such criticism leads to the birth of modem mechanism design theory.