F. A. Hayek and (Abstract) Rules

Abstract

The article reflects on Hayek's expositions concerning the nature of rules. It shows that his conception of rules is extremely wide, and that the bond between rules and regularities is too tight. Subsequently an alternative - narrower - delineation of the concept of rule is proposed. In the last part of the paper Hayek's too narrow a conception of normative rules is subjected to criticism and a broader conception is proposed.