|Peter Boettke|
James M Buchanan — my teacher — has had a rough couple years where historians and other critics have in essence insisted that the facts should never get in the way of their preferred narrative. BUT THEY SHOULD! It is a sad tragedy when they don’t because the allure of ideological blinders is just too great.
So one small set of facts — the visitors brought to Thomas Jefferson Center at UVa.
Visiting scholars at UVA's Thomas Jefferson Center under James Buchanan's watch:
1958 (Spring semester) - Frank Knight
1958-59 - Maurice Allais
1959-60 - Bertil Ohlin
1960-61 - Bruno Leoni
1961 (Spring semester) - F.A. Hayek
1961 (Fall semester) - Michael Polanyi
1962 - Duncan Black
1965-66 - W.H. Hutt
Notable guest lecturers brought in:
1957 - Ronald Coase (later joined faculty)
1958 - Charles Lindblom
1958 - Peter Bauer
1959 - Robert A. Dahl
1960 - T. W. Hutchison
And, just another set of facts, first Presidents of Public Choice Society.
James M. Buchanan - Economics
Gordon Tullock - Law and Economics
William H. Riker - Political Science
Vincent A. Ostrom - Public Administration
Otto A. Davis - Economics
Mancur Olson - Economics
James S. Coleman - Sociology
And, within the next few years Elinor Ostrom - Political Science; Charles Plott - Experimental Economics; and Vernon Smith - Experimental Economics, would be elected to serve as President of PCS.
So, do let facts get in the way — those stubborn facts — and challenge your priors and your preferred narratives.
Oh, two more — (1) John Rawls was in correspondence with Buchanan and Tullock, and attended the Committee on Non-Market Decision Making, and (2) Buchanan argued throughout his career for a 100% inheritance tax.
Facts are pesky critters.
Comments