Family, Society and Market

Testo disponibile solo in lingua inglese.
The author explores the relationship between family and society (but also between family and state) from different points of view. In the first part of the article, he traces to Rousseau the genesis of the modern, "democratic" neo-organicistic theory which has dominated political culture over the last two centuries. The second part sets out from Hayek in particular to deal with the relationship between the traditional family and liberal society, autonomous (self-governing) communities and the social system characterised by the free market, contracts and right of association. In the third part, the author identifies elements for a liberalist theory neither incompatible with communities nor blind to the need for fraternity. In the fourth part, finally, he studies the disastrous effects of state interventions: ostensibly purporting to have a planning function, they ultimately deprive free family communities of space, autonomy and responsibility.