'Great society' and its Constituting Norms

Abstract

F. A. Hayek calls the society in which we live as 'great society'. Its contrary concept is 'tribal society'. The important character of 'great society' is to make agreement on ends which is necessary in 'tribal society' unnecessary and a reconciliation of divergent purposes possible. Although Hayek admires A. Smith for his invention of the term, 'great society'. Smith has not distinguished 'great society' from 'tribal society' enough. Smith has made an accusation against B. Mandeville. while Hayek praises Mandeville. The ethics which is necessary to maintain and to develop the 'great society' requires us to lose when we must lose within the rules of fair competition, even if we have the might to deter the competition. It is more difficult and more unnatural to obey it than we usually think it is.