"Evolutionary Rationalism" and "Constructive Rationalism" respectively represent two traditions of liberal thought. They are different approaches to explaining the development of institutions and social structures, clearly distinguished by F. A. Hayek.
In fact, the contrast between these two theories can be seen as the opposition between liberalism centered on British and Scottish empiricism and liberalism centered on Continental European rationalism.
Two kinds of liberalism
Evolutionary Rationalism
Evolutionary Rationalism highlights the limitations of knowledge and the gradual evolution of social institutions. It holds the view that human rationality is constrained, and we cannot construct perfect social institutions based solely on reason. Instead, we need to guide the continuous evolution of social institutions through trial and error. This theory emphasizes the importance of history and practice, advocating that social institutions should be based on historical traditions and habits rather than pure rational planning. It believes that beneficial institutions and social structures often develop in a spontaneous and non-preset manner. This approach respects the application of reason in human affairs while also recognizing that human behavior is guided by habits and rules developed over the long term, which complement human partial rationality and foresight. From an evolutionary perspective, hereditary principles and social habits serve as tools for transmitting tacit knowledge, conveying knowledge beyond the scope of conscious reasoning. Evolutionists firmly believe that culture and civilization are crystallizations of tradition, not mere rational constructs.
Adam Smith and David Hume both adopted this "evolutionary" view of institutions and social structures.
Constructive Rationalism
Constructive Rationalism asserts that humans have the ability to design and build perfect social institutions using reason. This line of thought focuses on the power of reason, believing that people can deeply interpret social phenomena through logical analysis and rational deduction, and construct the best social institutions accordingly. It tends to emphasize the core role of reason in decision-making and advocates that social institutions should be based on rational planning rather than merely being influenced by history and tradition. Constructive rationalists often believe that social order stems more from intentional design and clear goals. They view social reality as artificially constructed and also emphasize the crucial importance of norms and ideas in shaping society.
Karl Marx and René Descartes are outstanding representatives of constructive rationalism, advocating purposeful design and practice of institutions and social structures.
Representative figures' thoughts
Adam Smith (Adam Smith)
Adam Smith (Adam Smith) is the founder of economics and moral philosophy, and his masterpiece "The Wealth of Nations" is highly praised. His thinking clearly demonstrates a preference for natural order and evolutionary rationality. Smith proposed the concept of the "invisible hand," explaining how, in a market economy system, when individuals pursue their own interests, they indirectly promote the welfare of society as a whole. This is not based on any centralized planning or conscious design, but rather the natural order produced by the decentralized decisions and interactions of many individuals. He emphasized in his thoughts the contribution of individual choice, customs, and traditions to economic and social order, which aligns with the core views of evolutionary rationality. Smith believed that many social rules and norms gradually formed under the influence of history and tradition, rather than being caused by central authority or preset designs.
René Descartes (René Descartes)
René Descartes, as an advocate of constructive rationality, firmly believed that one should start from radical doubt and build knowledge based on fundamental principles rather than relying solely on tradition and experience. This method is called Cartesian doubt, which he used to question various premises until finding undeniable truths. His famous statement "I think, therefore I am" (Cogito, ergo sum) is a product of this method of doubt, representing what he considered to be unshakable truth. In contrast to evolutionary rationality, which emphasizes the role of experience and tradition in the formation of knowledge, Descartes' constructive rationality method focuses on the importance of reason and logical inference. Descartes' way of thinking had a profound impact on the Enlightenment and modern scientific methods, advocating the construction and development of knowledge through logical reasoning based on clear and firm principles.
Hayek's perspective
Because the view of constructive rationalism holds that human reason can design society from scratch. Hayek believed this underestimated the value of traditional evolutionary rules in guiding human behavior. Instead, Hayek supported evolutionary rationalism, which holds that human success is more due to evolved guiding principles rather than pure rational thought. He also criticized the use of constructive rationalism in ethics because it often overly simplifies the origins of cultural institutions. Overall, Hayek believed that human reason has its limitations, and society prospers more when it respects tradition and evolutionary practices.